ASTM Int'l Publishes Four Revised Biodiesel Specifications

November 4, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

The revised ASTM biodiesel standards include:

• ASTM D 975-08a - Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils - used for on- and off-road diesel applications, was revised to include an allowance for up to 5% biodiesel.

• ASTM D 396-08b - Specification for Fuel Oils - used for home heating and boiler applications, was revised to include an allowance for up to 5% biodiesel.

• ASTM D 7467-08 - Specification for Diesel Fuel Oil, Biodiesel Blend (B6 to 20) - a specification that covers finished fuel blends of between 6% (B6) and 20% (B20) biodiesel for on- and off-road diesel engine use.

• ASTM D 6751-08 - Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels - used to control pure biodiesel (B100) quality prior to blending with conventional diesel type fuels, was revised to include a requirement that controls minor compounds using a new cold soak filterability test.

"ASTM D 975 and ASTM D 396 are the primary specifications in the U.S. for each of the products that they specify. [ASTM] D 975 is the commercial diesel fuel specification. [ASTM] D 396 is the commercial heating oil specification.

"Now we have actually been given allowance to put something in that historically has not been in diesel fuel and is not a diesel fuel, with really no significant change to the properties or their requirements," said Steve Westbrook, a staff scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and chair of Subcommittee D02.E0 on Burner, Diesel, Non-Aviation Gas Turbine and Marine Fuels, the group in ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants that oversees the standards.

Engine companies, vehicle manufacturers, pipeline operators, biodiesel and petroleum companies will use the group of specifications for fuel preparation, quality checking, engine design and bid and purchasing contracts, said ASTM International.

In addition, ASTM D 6751 is mandated in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, said ASTM International. The bill, intended to improve fuel economy and reduce dependence on oil, also references several other ASTM biofuel standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also requires that all biodiesel intended for use as a fuel meet ASTM D 6751, and internationally, both ASTM D 975 and ASTM D 6751 are used around the world, said ASTM International.

The ASTM specifications define biodiesel as a "fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, designated B100." Based on testing and research, the specifications provide details on requirements for fuel characteristics as well as the relevant standard test methods to use for each.

Those fats can come from a variety of sources and still meet the standards, said Steve Howell, president of MARC-IV Consulting and chair of the ASTM biodiesel task force. "We set the specifications on a performance basis for a diesel engine, not on the feedstock that you begin with or the process that you use."

"This is the first time that a nonpetroleum substance has been formally allowed in a petroleum specification, at least on the diesel side," said Howell. "We've had ethanol as part of the gasoline specification for some time, but we've never had biodiesel as part of the diesel fuel specification until now."

Petroleum corporations, biodiesel manufacturers, engine companies, military representatives, government representatives, researchers and academics participated in the standards' development.

ASTM biodiesel specifications, referenced ASTM documents, government regulations and other related information through the portal is available at the ASTM biodiesel web portal.

Source: ASTM International.