"Broquet" fuel catalysts in WWII Hurricanes
 

Gathered the following from trolling sorry trawling the 'net:

Hurricanes produced in the UK during the war ran on 100 RON fuel (developed in the years prior to the war I believe). As part of the aid program for Russia Hurricanes were delivered to them to help thwart the evil hun.
Unfortunately Russian fuel was a bit poor to say the least and didn't have the necessary octane rating. Some boffin by the name of Henry Broquet came up with some lumps of metal (tin?) that you pop in the fuel tank; these react with the fuel in some way and increase it's RON.

Questions are then did this actually happen and if so how does that work??

btw They are fitted as standard in my car which is what got me onto this :)