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Testing of Biodiesel Products: Key Titration Applications
The U.S. Biodiesel industry currently represents less than 0.5% of the total diesel fuel market (approximately 239 billion liters) annually. Obviously there is quite a way to go before Biodiesel becomes a mainstream energy source. Various factors including the amount of available feedstock (including high feedstock costs), controlling fuel quality, building an infrastructure, and the food or fuel dilemma are some obvious obstacles along the way.
Analysis of Biodiesel and Determination of Traces in New Oil by ICP-AES
Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based diesel fuel consisting of short chain alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters, made by transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats, which can be used (alone, or blended with conventional petrodiesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.
Analysis of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Content and Distribution in Biodiesel Blends Using Heart-Cutting 2D Gas Chromatography
The analysis of the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content in blended biodiesel samples is described using a heartcutting two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatographic (GC) system. A Capillary Flow Technology Deans switch is used to interface a primary nonpolar capillary column to a secondary polar capillary column. The primary column separates most of the petroleum hydrocarbons from the FAMEs. The FAMEs are selectively transferred to the secondary column, where they are completely resolved from t...
Meeting the Challenges of Biodiesel Blend Measurements with Portable Mid-Infrared Analyzers
In a published paper on biodiesel blend quality submitted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory1, the chief problem found with biodiesel blends was inaccurate blend ratios. Retail customers and fleet managers do not typically worry about whether the blend ratio is correct until a problem occurs. For fleet managers, an incorrect blend can mean a total shutdown of operations. On the regulatory side, the increase in fuel costs combined with the financial rewards of tax rebates and credits...
Challenges Facing the Biodiesel Industry: Focus on Biodiesel Testing Standards
At the present time there are multiple obstacles that need to be overcome in order for Biodiesel to become a mainstream energy source. These issues range from feedstock costs and availability of feedstock to fuel quality and the International Compatibility of Biodiesel Testing Standards. Unfortunately, these issues cannot be resolved overnight. The Road for getting Biodiesel to the Main Stage will be a long and treacherous one, taking possibly 5 to 10 years before significant changes take sha...
Biodiesel Analysis Utilising Alternating Current Small-Signal Impedance Spectroscopy - The i-SPEC™ Q 100 Handheld Analyser
Alternative fuels, especially ethanol and biodiesel, are rapidly gaining momentum to reduce US and EU dependence on traditional motor vehicle fuels, to improve air quality, and to reduce the carbon footprint. Biodiesel use is accelerating faster than any other fuel due to its use of non-food feedstocks (animal fat and used vegetable oil) and the minimal need to alter diesel engines or fuel delivery infrastructure when using biodiesel. William Thurmond, author of Biodiesel 2020 International (...
Fast and Firm on Fuel: Biodiesel QC with Anton Paar
In the biodiesel industry, product quality is closely linked to measurement quality. Accurate, reliable process and quality control equal optimised product output. Anton Paar provides high-precision instruments for just that purpose: the determination of all biodiesel quality parameters you need – in next to no time.