Deibel Laboratories

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Soap & Catalyst

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Processing Specification:

Production of biodiesel using an alkali catalyst always produces some amount of soap. There will be more soap with recycled restaurant waste and animal fats and less with refined vegetable oils. Catalyst and soap tend to concentrate in the glycerol phase; however, some may be found in the biodiesel phase even after the washing process. Soap and Catalyst are evaluated to determine the presence of residual contaminants. The presence of soap is attributed to saponification of free fatty acids present in the feedstock. Residual catalyst may remain if the reaction is incomplete or may be attributable to the excessive use of initial caustic reagent material.
ASTM D6751 Requirement: None.

Derived Cetane Number

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Property Specification:

The Derived Cetane Number relates to the readiness of the fuel to self-ignite when exposed to the high temperatures and pressure in the diesel engine combustion chamber. The number is also indicative of the relative fuel stability. On-highway diesel fuels in the U.S. are required to have Cetane numbers of 40 or higher. Derived Cetane Number is evaluated in accordance with ASTM D6890.
ASTM D6751 Requirement: minimum cetane number of 47.

Methanol Content

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Processing Specification:

Methanol is a primary raw material reactant used in the production of biodiesel. Methanol content of biodiesel fuel is an important factor in determining the tendency of the fuel to exhibit flammable characteristics. Additionally, a key quality factor for the alcohol reactant material is water content; methanol is hygroscopic to some degree. Water affects the extent and rate of the esterification reaction. Producers will value methanol purity tests to assure that water content is negligible at the start of production. Additionally, excess alcohol used during the production reaction can be recovered to minimize operating costs and environmental impacts. Evaluating the purity of recovered methanol enables the determination of reuse suitability. Lastly, the evaluation of methanol in a glycerin byproduct enables producers to market this fuel by-product as a commodity rather than manage it as a waste.  Methanol content in biodiesel is performed in accordance with EN 14110.
ASTM D6751 Requirement: maximum methanol content of 0.2% mass. If the Flash Point is  greater than 130° C, methanol analysis is not required.

Micro-Carbon Residue

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Quality Specification:

Carbon residues contribute to engine deposits. The Micro-Carbon Residue test, performed in accordance with ASTM D4530, provides an estimation of the the carbon-depositing characteristics of the fuel.
ASTM D6751 Requirement: maximum carbon residue of 0.050% by mass.

Distillation Temperature

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Property Specification:

Vacuum distillation in accordance with ASTM D1160 is used to determine the boiling range characteristics of a hydrocarbon sample. The boiling characteristics have an important effect on the performance, storage, and safety of the fuel. Biodiesel is produced from oils with fatty acid chains that are mostly straight-chain hydrocarbons containing 16 to 18 carbons. Because biodiesel is relatively homogenous and not composed of hydrocarbon fractions with various volatility properties, biodiesel is characterized by a boiling point rather than a boiling range distribution (i.e., distillation curve).
ASTM D6751 Requirement: 90% distilled at a maximum temperature of 360˚C, Atmospheric Equivalent Temperature (AET).

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