Ethanol’s own octane number is 129 by the most optimistic measure (research octane) and this stuff about just a little bit of it, however fancily introduced, being able to boost a gasoline to 150 sounds like so much snake oil on the surface. To quote Scotty, “You canna’ change the laws of physics!”
Biowaste derived fuels are a fascinating topic, but so far it seems that such a process would need far more pure water than the world’s known resources can supply if it were to push petroleum out of contention as a fuel. Now if a microbe could be made that would do the job with seawater, the picture would change. I’d also hate to see that germ ever get loose into the oceans because it would rot all comers.
I know...
Read this book....
When we injected ADI, ( Water and Alcohol ) if my memory is correct it boosted the then aviation high octane of 145ish up into the 180 range in WWII. It has the effect of cooling the charge. By doing it directly into the cylinder my guess is they are taking advantage of the phase state change from a liquid to a (vapor) liquid that it reduces the temp in the chamber.
Agree with the Bio-fuel angle....