Biofuel specifications
Oil companies and vehicle manufacturers are actively working with Biofuel extender producers to have agreed standards for trans-esterified vegetable oils suitable for blending with conventional diesel to ensure that the product meets the technical requirements of modern diesel engines. The minimum test requirements for Biodiesel blend extenders are specified in ASTM D6751 in USA and EN 14214 within Europe.
EN 590 and ASTM D975 fuel specifications for petroleum-based automotive diesel fuel currently permit a Biofuel extender content of up to 5% by volume (B5) or in US up to 20% volume (B20), which if meets the specifications, may not affect the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.
EN 14214 for Bio-Auto Fuels
All road fuels are subject to strict quality controls and are vital to maintain standards and provide authorities with the ability to assess safety risks and environmental pollution. For example regular mineral diesel is subject to the EN 590 standard. In 1997 the European Committee for Standardization was given the task to develop a uniform standard for Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME). The result was the EN 14214 specification.
The introduction of this standard in 2004 is valid for all member states of the European Union. In particular this standard gives engine and automobile makers the ability to give warranties to those vehicles which run on Biodiesel. At present a limit of 5% FAME is allowed in EN 590 diesel. This 5% must conform to the EN14214 standard.
| EN 14214 - Property | Units | lower limit | upper limit | Test-Method |
| Ester content | % (m/m) | 96,5 | - | EN 14103 |
| Density at 15°C | kg/m³ | 860 | 900 | EN ISO 3675 / EN ISO 12185. |
| Viscosity at 40°C | mm²/s | 3,5 | 5,0 | EN ISO 3104 |
| Flash point | °C | > 101 | - | ISO 3679 |
| Sulfur content | mg/kg | - | 10 | - |
| Tar remnant (at 10% distillation remnant) | % (m/m) | - | 0,3 | EN ISO 10370 |
| Cetane number | - | 51,0 | - | EN ISO 5165 |
| Sulfated ash content | % (m/m) | - | 0,02 | ISO 3987 |
| Water content | mg/kg | - | 500 | EN ISO 12937 |
| Total contamination | mg/kg | - | 24 | EN 12662 |
| Copper band corrosion (3 hours at 50 °C) | rating | Class 1 | Class 1 | EN ISO 2160 |
| Thermal Stability | - | - | - | - |
| Oxidation stability, 110°C | hours | 6 | - | EN 14112 |
| Acid value | mg KOH/g | - | 0,5 | EN 14104 |
| Iodine value | - | - | 120 | EN 14111 |
| Linolic Acid Methylester | % (m/m) | - | 12 | EN 14103 |
| Polyunsaturated (>= 4 Double bonds) Methylester | % (m/m) | - | 1 | - |
| Methanol content | % (m/m) | - | 0,2 | EN 14110 |
| Monoglyceride content | % (m/m) | - | 0,8 | EN 14105 |
| Diglyceride content | % (m/m) | - | 0,2 | EN 14105 |
| Triglyceride content | % (m/m) | - | 0,2 | EN 14105 |
| Free Glycerine | % (m/m) | - | 0,02 | EN 14105 / EN 14106 |
| Total Glycerine | % (m/m) | - | 0,25 | EN 14105 |
| Alkali Metals (Na+K) | mg/kg | - | 5 | EN 14108 / EN 14109 |
| Phosphorus content | mg/kg | - | 10 | EN 14107 |
EN 14213 for Bio-Heating Fuels
| Property | Units | lower limit | upper limit | Test-Method |
| Ester content | % (m/m) | 96,5 | - | EN 14103 |
| Density at 15°C | kg/m³ | 860 | 900 | EN ISO 3675 / EN ISO 12185. |
| Viscosity at 40°C | mm²/s | 3,5 | 5,0 | EN ISO 3104, ISO 3105 |
| Flash point | °C | 120 | - | EN ISO 3679 |
| Sulfur content | mg/kg | - | 10,0 | EN ISO 20846, EN ISO 20884 |
| Carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue) | % (m/m) | - | 0,30 | EN ISO 10370 |
| Sulfated ash content | % (m/m) | - | 0,020 | ISO 3987 |
| Water content | mg/kg | - | 500 | EN ISO 12937 |
| Total contamination | mg/kg | - | 24 | EN 12662 |
| Oxidation stability, 110°C | hours | 4,0 | - | EN 14112 |
| Acid value | mg KOH/g | - | 0,50 | EN 14104 |
| Iodine value | gr iodine/ 100 gr |
- | 130 | EN 14111 |
| Polyunsaturated (>= 4 double bonds) methyl esters | % (m/m) | - | 1 | - |
| Monoglyceride content | % (m/m) | - | 0,80 | EN 14105 |
| Diglyceride content | % (m/m) | - | 0,20 | EN 14105 |
| Triglyceride content | % (m/m) | - | 0,20 | EN 14105 |
| Free Glycerine | % (m/m) | - | 0,02 | EN 14105, EN 14106 |
| Cold filter plugging point (CFPP) i | °C | - | EN 116 | |
| Pour point | °C | - | 0 | ISO 3016 |
| Net calorific value (calculated) | MJ/kg | 35 | 10 | DIN 51900, DIN 51900-1, DIN 51900-2, DIN 51900-3 |
ASTM D6751-01 For BioDiesel (B100)
| Property | ASTM Method | Limits | Typical Results |
| Flash point | D93 | 130 °C min | 173 °C |
| Water & Sediment | D2709 | 0.050% vol. max | < 0.025 |
| Kinematic Viscosity, 40 °C | D445 | 1.9-6.0 min2/sec. | 3.9 |
| Sulfated Ash | D874 | 0.020% mass max | 0.01 |
| Sulfur | D5453 | 0.05% mass max | 0 |
| Copper Strip Corrosion | D130 | No. 3 max | 1a |
| Cetane | D613 | 47 min. | 52 |
| Cloud Point | D2500 | Report to customer | -1 °C |
| Carbon Residue, 100% Sample | D4530 | 0.050% mass max | < 0.001 |
| Acid Number | D664 | 0.80 mg KOH/gm max | 0.14 |
| Free Glycerin | D6584 | 0.020% mass max | 0.02 |
| Total Glycerin | D6584 | 0.240% mass max | 0.02 |
| Phosphorus Content | D4951 | 0.001% mass max | < 0.000 |
| Distillation Temp., atmospheric equiv. temp., 90% recovered | D1160 | 360 °C max | 353 °C |
| Specific Gravity | D287 | Not Required | 0.86 |
| Dielectric Strength, KV | D877 | Not Required | 47 |
| Color | Not Required | Water Clear |
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