Biodiesel Testing

The newest requirement for biodiesel fuel testing is the cold soak filtration test. This was added to the ASTM Method in October 2008, and it is designed to improve purity standards.

In the past, substandard biodiesel would often precipitate material out of solution when exposed to cold temperatures. If this happens with biofuel used in an engine, it can lead to extensive damage. Therefore, legislators required the cold soak filtration test to prevent such substandard product from being available to consumers.

The standards are established by an organization known as the ASTM, American Society for Testing and Materials. For years, the ASTM has set the standards for the fuel source to be allowed in the marketplace.

But what is the cold soak filtration test, exactly? It measures the seconds it takes for cold soaked biodiesel to pass through two 0.8 micron filters. It also measures the particulate matter remaining on the filter.

This ensures that end users will not have clogged engine filters or worse problems when using biodiesel in cold temperatures.

To ensure that the fuels you are manufacturing meet the newest regulations, it is important to subject them to biodiesel testing.

Midwest Labs offers biodiesel testing including the cold soak filtration test. Maintaining high quality standards is the key to customer satisfaction.