Midwest Laboratories put together a critical package for biodiesel
clients to help clients produce a quality product by passing the
hardest requirements of ASTM D 6751 .This new critical package, (Flash
Point, Acid Number, Total Glycerin, Free Glycerin, Oxidation Stability
and NEW – Cold Soak Filtration) includes the Cold Soak Filtration. This
new test has required a number of biodiesel producers to reevaluate
steps in their process. The Cold Soak Filtration Test will officially
be enforced in April, 2009 as a part of ASTM D 6751. At Midwest
Laboratories, our role is to help inform clients about this test up
front so it can be addressed sooner rather than later.

One proposition of interest was to invest in research making ethanol from agricultural waste, which is a realistic biofuel of our future.

Methane gas is a natural byproduct of landfills all over our country. Power plants are starting to use this energy source to make the electricity to power your home and business.

There are also newly developing biofuels from algae and cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is most interesting because it uses plant matter that might normally be considered agricultural waste … corn stalks, straw, various grasses and woody plant material.

The featured guest, Tim Searchinger of Princeton University, said, “The simplest explanation is that when we divert our corn or soybeans to fuel, if people around the world are going to continue to eat the same amount that they’re already eating, you have to replace that food somewhere else.”

This of course forces humans to convert more natural forests and grasslands into agricultural fields which results in more carbon dioxide production.

Of the Renewable Fuels Association, Matt Hartwig, agreed that ethanol is not the perfect answer, but “it is evolving and becoming better.”

And Alex Farrell of Berkley sees light at the end of the tunnel … he counters with the very real prospect of using biofuels made from landfill materials, waste, or grasses.

All agree that the biodiesel industry is continuing to evolve, and with it is the need for stringent biodiesel fuel testing.

For additional information on biodiesel testing, please contact bpohlman@midwestlabs.com.

The 2008 Conference is expected to break records with the number of industry leaders. There will be endless opportunities for education, networking, and events.

Stop by the Midwest Labs booth (Booth 1019) to learn more about our biodiesel testing analysis – analysis you can trust. For more information, contact Brent Pohlman or Heather Ramig at 402-334-7770.

Quality control is a must throughout the production process. Midwest Laboratories, Inc. offers a wide array of Petroleum Analysis & Biodiesel Analysis Biodiesel Testing. We’re happy to work with you to whether you need an individual biodiesel testing kit or are interested in a package to continuously test biodiesel.

For additional information, please contact bpohlman@midwestlabs.com

The time in seconds it takes for cold soaked biodiesel to pass through two 0.8 micron filters and the amount of particulate matter expressed in mg/l collected on the filter.

For Producers/Blenders: Poor filtration can be related to choice of feedstock, as well as incomplete glycerin removal during processing. It may also indicate the B100 product was subjected to low temperatures (below pour point). It is not sufficient to warm to ambient- product must be heated to 100F to liquefy all molecules present.

For Distributors/End users: High filtration times indicate the potential for fuel filter plugging. In freezing climates, consider heat trace on storage tanks, blend and piping equipment. End users may look to install heated filter housings.