Proposed Standard Supports Sampling for Renewable Fuel Facilities

ASTM International’s bioenergy and industrial-chemicals-from-biomass committee (E48) is creating a standard that will help companies that produce biofuel using - in part - kernel fiber.

This fiber was approved as a “cellulosic feedstock” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2014. As such, renewable biofuel that is produced using kernel fiber as a feedstock can qualify as cellulosic biofuel under the Renewable Fuels Standard.

Specifically, the proposed standard (WK63392) will help with sampling, testing, and calculating methodologies to ensure renewable fuel production facilities comply with regulations when claiming renewable fuel produced from kernel fiber. The regulations require that the amount of biofuel produced from kernel fiber be accurately quantified to differentiate it from the biofuel produced from starch. The biofuel produced from the fiber specifically can then qualify for what is known as a D3 Renewable Identification Number, or RIN.

“This standard will help ensure that starch and cellulosic content are well defined so that a variety of analytical methods can be used,” adds Kristi Plack, chief science officer with Bion Analytical and ASTM International member.

Renewable fuel production facilities, third-party engineering companies, commercial laboratories, and government agencies would find this standard most useful, she says.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN. The next meeting of the committee will take place on Dec. 12 in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).