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.

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.

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 ASTM guidelines place maximum and/or minimum limits on 4 biodiesel characteristics: 

1) Flash Point.  The flash point is the lowest temperature for which combustion is possible.  If too low, then inadvertent combustion may occur which is of course a safety hazard.  Producers should always test biodiesel fuel for the flash point to ensure the safety of distributors, retailers and consumers.

2) Contamination.  Water and sediment does not present a safety concern, these contaminant materials can have has undesirable mechanical effects: clog filters, reduce ignition performance, and have a negative impact upon the fuel pump. 

The ASTM specifications refer to the amount of water dissolved; not to the water coexisting in bulk form within a tank. 

3) Microbes.  Water included in the blend may also stimulate the growth of microbes, especially in warmer temperatures.  The microbes produce deposits that can aid the clogging of the water upon filters. 

4) Glycerin.  Glycerin is a natural byproduct of biodiesel production. A large glycerin content in the final product can indicate that the manufacturing process used to transform oils and fats into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was incomplete.   High glycerin content can likely result in the clogged filters and in the contamination of injectors.

For biodiesel fuel testing, kits and information is offered by Midwest Laboratories in accordance with ASTM 6751 for B100 - Biodiesel.  Midwest Labs works with clients to develop testing packages that suit your specific needs.

For additional information, please contact bpohlman@midwestlabs.com

Key to BQ-9000 certification is compliance with the ASTM D6751 specification for B100. The ASTM D6751 sets limits on a number of properties of biodiesel fuel:

• the combined mass concentration of calcium and magnesium
• the closed cup flashpoint
• the combined volume concentration of water and sediment
• and many more properties.

In order to meet the biodiesel regulations set in many states as well as of the BQ-9000 certification process, biodiesel testing in accordance with ASTM D6751-07b is a vital component offered by Midwest Labs.

When meeting these specifications through a testing process, you can guarantee a quality biodiesel fuel for your customers.

At Midwest Laboratories, 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 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.

Article: 

Biodiesel is a biofuel which is produced from organic oils or fats, and can be used in diesel engines. The technical name for standard biodiesel is alkyl methyl ester. Generally, this is made from reacting vegetable oil and methanol using a catalyst, resulting in a molecule that contains hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. The presence of oxygen in the molecule helps to make it a cleaner burning fuel. Although some diesel engines can run on straight vegetable oil (SVO), this is not genuine biodiesel and does not share all of its advantages.

As biodiesel comes from organic carbon sources, it is carbon neutral. This means that burning it does not add carbon to the earth’s biosphere (the biosphere includes the atmosphere and all living things). When plants photosynthesize, they use up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into organic molecules such as oils. When you burn these oils, you simply return the carbon to the atmosphere. This is unlike the burning of fossil fuels, where fossil carbon is released and increases the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. However, be aware that some fossil carbon is burned in the production of biodiesel, so it is not a totally carbon neutral fuel.

Compared to fossil diesel, biodiesel–

•    has similar viscosity (it’s runny like diesel, not gooey like vegetable oil)
•    has superior lubricating properties
•    has little effect on engine power
•    produces lower CO2 emissions
•    produces lower particulate (soot) emissions
•    is much more biodegradable
•    is much less toxic (10 times less toxic than common salt)
•    is much less flammable, and therefore safer to handle and transport

There is some debate as to the effect of using biodiesel on NOx emissions. NOx is a term for oxides of nitrogen, which help to form smog. Using biodiesel usually results in a slight increase in NOx production. This may be reduced by the use of catalytic converters on modern diesel engines.

There are some minor difficulties to overcome when using biodiesel in an older car or truck. Biodiesel is slightly corrosive to rubber seals and hoses which are often found on old diesel engines. Replacing these rubber components with modern, corrosion resistant parts is usually very cheap. The chemical properties of biodiesel will also dislodge dirt. This can clog the fuel filter, which has to be examined regularly for the first 500 miles and replaced if need be.

It is possible to mix biodiesel with fossil diesel and run it in an unmodified engine. The mixtures are named by their biodiesel content. B5 contains 5% biodiesel and 95% fossil diesel, and can be used in the majority of modern cars and trucks with no ill effect. The 5% biodiesel content gives a measurable reduction in CO2 and soot production. B20, which is 20% biodiesel and 80% fossil diesel, is another common mixture. B100 is 100% biodiesel, and although most modern diesel engines will run on it with minimal modifications, it may void the warranty. Some manufacturers allow owners to use commercial biodiesel without losing their warranty protection.

Biodiesel can be made from used vegetable oil. This is an excellent idea, because the oil has already served its purpose and would be thrown away, so using it as a clean fuel is a bonus. Some people make their own DIY biodiesel. It is a simple process that could be done by anybody who took chemistry at high school. They usually use vegetable oil given to them by local hotels and restaurants. Safety procedures should be followed, because toxic chemicals such as methanol and caustic soda are used. The legality of this varies between countries. Tax may have to be paid on the DIY biodiesel before it is used.

Making biodiesel from specially grown crops is more controversial, especially from crops such as palm oil, which are grown in huge plantations in the third world. The growth of these crops may cause significant environmental damage. Crops such as oilseed grown in the western world are a better choice, but it would be impossible to grow enough to completely replace fossil diesel with biodiesel. Recent experiments have shown that algae are a promising source of organic oils, so biodiesel may yet become a major carbon neutral fuel source of the future.

L.J. Martin is a writer who holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Environmental Science. You can read more of his environment guides at the   http://www.eejitsguides.com Eejits Guides website.

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