Biodiesel 101

&
Technical Overview

National Biodiesel Board Technician Outreach Program

February 2010
After today’s session, you will
be able to do the following:
 Understand why your customers want biodiesel
 Answer general questions about biodiesel that
your customers may ask you
 Understand the importance of quality and the
BQ-9000 program
 Be able to discern issues between normal diesel
problems and poor quality biodiesel imposters or
out-of-spec biodiesel when they hit your shop
Biodiesel Driving Forces
 Reduce dependence on imported crude oil and petrodiesel
from unstable parts of the world
 Reduce global warming by using a renewable fuel
 Reduce harmful emissions from diesel engines
 Can be used in any diesel engine without modifications,
existing fueling stations can be used
 Easy to use--drop in substitute for petroleum diesel fuel
 Produces over 3 times more energy than it takes to grow
and process the fuel
 Engine and vehicle companies approve the fuel for use
 Over 100 million miles of on-road trouble-free use both here
and abroad
 Why People Want Biodiesel
 Green Jobs
 2007: 21,803 jobs
 2007: $4.1 billion to GDP
 $26 billion to U.S. economy by
2012
 Create 38,856 new jobs in all
sectors of the economy
 Renewable Fuel Standard:
 Requires 1 billion gallons B100
by 2012
 B5 in 2/3 of all on road diesel!
 Low cost option to meet RFS
National Biodiesel Board
 Energy Security
 amount imported from Iraq U.S.
Industry Goal:
 5% on-road displacement by
2015 ≈ 1.85 BGY (met in various
blend levels)
 5% ≈ ¼ of diesel equivalent
refined from Persian Gulf Crude
or about the
 Environmental benefits
 Biodegradable and Non-Toxic - safer
than diesel and biodegrades as fast
as dextrose, a test sugar.
 Greenhouse Gases – A 78% life cycle
decrease in CO2 according to a
USDA and DOE study.
4
Why make biodiesel?

Biodiesel

Diesel fuel injectors

are not designed for
viscous fuels like
vegetable oil
Glycerin (thick)
 Biodiesel Defined
 Biodiesel, n. -- a fuel comprised of mono-
alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids
derived from vegetable oils or animal fats,
meeting ASTM D 6751, designated B100.
 Biodiesel Blend, n. -- a blend of biodiesel
fuel with petroleum-based diesel fuel
designated BXX, where XX is the volume
percent of biodiesel.
• This tight definition was needed in order to secure
vehicle, engine and fuel injection equipment company
support for biodiesel, as well as to secure ASTM specs
 Beware of
Biodiesel Imposters!
 ASTM D6751 Definition Eliminates:
 Coal Slurries
 Raw Vegetable Oils and Fats
 Non-Esterified Oils
 Hydro-treated Oils and Fats
 Proprietary Veg Oil / Ethanol blends
 Blends With Diesel
 Auto,engine, and fuel injection
equipment makers only support D6751
biodiesel
What is Biodiesel??
Raw Veg
Oil—NO!

“Bio-Willie”
Yes, but not
from
marijuana
oil!
Ethanol—NO!
Ethanol is not Biodiesel!!!
 Ethanol is made from fermenting the
whole corn kernel to ethanol
 Ethanol is intended only for spark

ignited (i.e. gasoline) applications since

it has good octane but poor cetane,
zero lubricity
 “Drink the best and burn the rest”!
 Raw
ethanol in diesel fuel can severely
damage diesel engines!
Biodiesel Raw Materials
Oil or Fat Alcohol
Soybean Methanol
Corn Ethanol
Canola
Cottonseed Catalyst
Sunflower Sodium hydroxide
Beef tallow Potassium hydroxide
Pork lard
Used cooking oils
Potential New Sources

Algae
Seashore Mallow Brassica Juncea

Brown Grease
Etc.

Jatropha Low Ricin Castor

National Biodiesel Board 11
Transesterification
(the biodiesel reaction)
Methanol
(or Ethanol)
Biodiesel

Triglyceride
Glycerol

One triglyceride molecule is

converted into three mono alkyl
Fatty Acid Chain ester (biodiesel) molecules
 Biodiesel Reaction
In the presence of a
catalyst
Combinin Yield
g s
Vegetable Oil Biodiesel
or (100 lbs.)
Animal Fat +
(100 lbs.)
Glycerin
+
(10 lbs.)
Methanol or
Ethanol
(10 lbs.)
Important Biodiesel Parameters
 Complete Reaction/Removal of Glycerin
 Insured through total/free glycerin spec
 Removal of Catalyst
 Insured through sulfated ash spec
 Removal of Alcohol
 Insured through flash point spec
 Absence of Free Fatty Acids
 Insured through acid value spec
All these insured through ASTM D 6751
– Represents over $50 million and 15 years of testing
Biodiesel Infrastructure
 Biodiesel and biodiesel blends
are now available nationwide
from more than:
 1,600 Distributors and
 1,300 Retailers
 Visit the NBB website at:
www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodi
esel/ or www.biotrucker.com to
view biodiesel retailers near
you, by state, or along a route
Biodiesel Pump Labeling
No Label Required:
 Fuel blends containing no more than five percent
biodiesel and no more than 5 percent biomass-
based diesel and that meet ASTM D975.

Labels Required:
 Fuel blends containing more than five but no more
than 20 percent biodiesel or biomass-based diesel.
 Fuel blends containing more than 20 percent
biodiesel or biomass-based diesel.
 Separate Labels for Biodiesel (Blue Labels) and
Biomass-Based Diesel (Orange Labels)
Biodiesel Production Locations

Represent ~ 80% of biodiesel

production volume in U.S.
 B100--Properties
 ASTM D 6751
 No Sulfur (1-2 ppm)
 No Aromatics
 High Cetane (over 50)
 Superior Lubricity in Low Blends
 Biodegradable, Non-Toxic
 3.2 to 1 Positive Energy Balance
 BTU same or higher than No. 1
 78% Life Cycle CO2 Reduction
 All Proven: $70MM Scientific Study over 18
years
 Biodiesel
Performance Properties
 B20 Similar
Performance to
Petrodiesel:
 Torque
 Horsepower
 Mileage
 Range
 1-2% fewer BTUs per
gallon than #2 diesel
Enhanced Lubricity
 Equipment benefits
 Superior lubricity
Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel  B2 has up to 66% more
lubricity than #2 Diesel
800
700  EPA required sulfur
600
500
reduction in diesel
400
300
 No overdosing concerns
200
100 WSD (micron)
HFRR
0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Biodiesel Blend (%)
 Cleaner emissions

Emission Type B100 B20 B2

Total Unburned Hydrocarbons -67% -20% -2.2%

Carbon Monoxide -48% -12% -1.3%

Particulate Matter -47% -12% -1.3%

Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) +10% +/-2%* +.2%

* http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/38296.pdf
 B100 Blending
Component Specification
D6751-08 Requirements Recent changes:
 Cold Soak
Filtration or
Control of Minor
Property Test Method Limits Units Components
Calcium & Magnesium EN 14538 5 max ppm(ug/g) added
Alcohol control
either Flash Point D 93 130 min. Degrees C
or GC methanol EN 14110 0.2 % Volume  Major steps
Flash Point D 93 93 min. Degrees C forward for
Kin. Viscosity, 40C D 445 1.9 - 6.0 mm?/sec.
Sulfated Ash D 874 0.02 max. % mass passage of
Sulfur S500 D 5453 0.05 max (500) % mass (ppm) biodiesel blend
S15 D 5453 0.0015 max (15) % mass (ppm) specifications
Copper Corrosion D 130 No. 3 max.
Cetane number D 613 47 min.  Critical for
Cloud Point D 2500 Report degrees C obtaining OEM
Carbon Residue D 4530 0.05 max. % mass
Acid Number D 664 0.50 max. mg KOH/g approval
Free Glycerin
Total Glycerin
D 6854
D 6854
0.020
0.240
% mass
% mass
 Critical for
Phosphorous content D 4951 0.001 max % mass ensuring that
Distillation, T90 AET D 1160 360 max degrees C biodiesel performs
Na/K, combined EN 14538 5 max ppm(ug/g) as advertised so
Oxidation Stability EN 14112 3 min hours
(Visual Appearance)D 4176 Free of un
-dissolved water, sediment and suspended matter market can grow
BOLD = BQ
-9000 Critical Specification Testing
OnceProduction Process Under Control

McCormick, R.L, Westbrook, S.R. “Biodiesel and Biodiesel

Blends” Standardization News, page 28, April 2007
 ASTM Biodiesel Specs
Now Approved
 Started ASTM process in 1993
 After 15 years, biodiesel blends were
approved by ASTM in 2008

 D6751: Pure biodiesel blend stock

 D975: On/off road diesel with up to 5%
Biodiesel
 D7467: On/off road diesel with
biodiesel between 6% and 20%
BQ 9000 Quality Program

•Biodiesel Industry’s “Good Housekeeping” TM seal of

approval for biodiesel production & distribution
companies
•Quality Control System covers biodiesel manufacturing,
sampling, testing, blending, storage, shipping,
distribution
•ASTM Grade Fuel, BQ-9000 Companies
ASTM D 6751 is CRITICAL
BQ 9000 is becoming a given
Spec Grade B20 and Lower
 Made with ASTM grade B100
 Drop in replacement for petrodiesel

 Millions of miles of trouble free use

 B20 holds similar levels of water as petrodiesel
 Take cold weather precautions like diesel
 Good detergent—may clean out systems upon first
use (filter change in 2% cases)
 Use within 6 months
 See NBB Toolkit document “Use of Biodiesel Blends Up to B20” for
more information
Going over B20 requires caution
 But it can be done with proper pre-cautions
 NBB recommends average user stay at B20

 Cold flow issues are greater

 Materials compatibility (hoses, gaskets)

 Cleaning effect is more immediate

 Engine oil may become diluted with fuel

Cold Flow Properties
 Biodiesel (B100) freezes faster than most petrodiesel
 Untreated B20 freezes about 3-10º F faster than petrodiesel, depending on:
 the cold flow properties of the biodiesel
 the cold flow properties of the petrodiesel
 B2 properties are similar to diesel fuel
 B20 has been used successfully in climates below -20ºF
 Traditional cold weather options for diesel work well with biodiesel and blends
 Blend with kerosene, use of additives
 Block and filter heaters
 Indoor vehicle storage
In specification B100
Out of spec B100: High raw oil
Biodiesel Handling and Storage
 Some older fuel lines
(Buna, natural rubbers)
are not compatible with
biodiesel and will
degrade.
 Viton and Teflon hoses
and seals are widely used
today and are compatible
with biodiesel.
 No copper, brass, bronze,
zinc, or other galvanized
surfaces
Engine to Fuel System
 Biodiesel only contacts the fuel system so
use should not affect bearings, turbo,
oil/water pumps, and other wear-related
parts.
 Biodiesel improves fuel lubricity and thus
can be used as a lubricity additive for poor
quality diesel fuels.
 In Europe, there have been some claims of
crankcase oil dilution and oil thickening.
This has not been observed in the U.S.
Operational issues
Low energy content
 Not harmful, but may cause power loss and increased fuel
consumption
 Cold flow – fuel filter plugging
 Microbial growth – fuel filter plugging
 Incomplete reaction – fuel filter plugging
 Fuel oxidation – fuel filter plugging

Fuel filter plugging is the most common

operational issue
Biodiesel and Exhaust
After-Treatment
 Biodiesel Enhances Diesel Particulate Filter and NOx
After treatment performance compared to petrodiesel
(or hydrocarbons) alone
 Some models (mostly light duty) may experience high
fuel in the engine oil if in-cylinder post-injection used
for PM trap light off, especially with blends over B20
 No reported issues with B20 with medium/heavy duty
 VW 2009 light duty: No more than B5 due to this
New Diesel Technology

-2010
 DPF: Balance Point Temp -
Regeneration Rate Results
• BPT is 40ºC lower for B20 • Regeneration rate increases
• Soot is more easily burned off of filter with increasing biodiesel
• B20: lower temperature duty cycle OK content
• Even at 5%, biodiesel PM
measurably oxidizes more
quickly

BPT
ULSD 360ºC
B20 320ºC
B100 250ºC
B20 vs. Diesel: In the shop
 With in spec B20 and lower, the issues you
can expect to see in your shop are the same
as you will see with petrodiesel
 Except:
 Expect to see less lubricity related issues
 Expect to see less problems with after-treatment
 Filter related issues likely normal diesel issues or
out of spec or imposter biodiesel
 Less black smoke from exhaust!
What could I see in a Diesel Fuel
Filter?

Diesel Oxidation or Aphaltenes Diesel Fuel Paraffin wax

What could I see in a Diesel Fuel
Filter?

Other contaminants like

water and sediment or
Water saturated filter paper
microbial contamination
What could I see that’s different
than normal Diesel Fuel Filters?

Partial reaction products from

off specification biodiesel or
imposter biodiesel
 Filtration

Oil

Filter Filter

Biodiesel plant

Filter
Filter Filter
OEM Support for Biodiesel
Blends
OEM Warranty Statements and
Biodiesel
 All major U.S. OEMs support at least B5 and
lower blends, provided they are made with
biodiesel meeting ASTM D 6751
 More than 55% of U.S. manufacturers support
B20 or higher blends in at least some of their
equipment
 Several more are completing testing and
progressing toward support for B20 now that
new ASTM standards for B6-B20 blends have
been published (ASTM D7467)
 Most are also recommending use of a BQ-9000
supplier
OEMs Supporting B20
Other OEM Biodiesel Positions
 Expected to enter the U.S. diesel
market (2010+), blend TBA:
 Acura, Honda, Hyundai, Mahindra, Mini
Cooper, Nissan, Smart Car, Subaru,
Toyota
 Approve B5:
 Audi, BMW, Detroit Diesel,
Freightliner, Isuzu, Kubota, Mack,
Mercedes, Volkswagen, Volvo
OEM Biodiesel Blend Approvals
 Approve B20 or higher on at least some
models:
 Arctic Cat, Buhler, Case Construction
Equipment, Case IH, Caterpillar, Cummins,
Chrysler (Dodge Ram & Sprinter - Fleets
Only), Ford (for 2011+ F-Series trucks),
General Motors (for 2011+ models), Hayes
Diversified Technologies, John Deere,
Navistar/International, Perkins, Toro, Yanmar
 Approve B100:
 Case IH (approx. 50% of models), Fairbanks
Morse, New Holland, Tomcar
Truck Market
 American Trucking Association Endorses B5
Use
“ATA is proud to endorse the use of biodiesel in
blends of up to 5%.”
-Rich Moskowitz, ATA Regulatory Affairs
Counsel
 BioTrucker.com
 Availability
 Testimonials
 FAQ’s & News
Legislative Incentives for
Biodiesel: RFS-2
 New Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS-2) will
be the single largest factor in biodiesel
production and use to date
 Final rule accounts for 2009 and 2010 Biomass-
based Diesel use requirements.
 Consistent with EISA’s requirements, 1.150
billion gallons of biodiesel must be used
domestically by
the end of 2010. Biodiesel used domestically in
2009 and 2010 will count towards this total.
State Biodiesel Legislation:
 42 states have now legislatively
adopted the ASTM D6751
specifications for biodiesel 
 7 states have passed biodiesel usage

requirements: 
 Two are currently in effect (MN & WA)
 Five will be in effect as of July 1, 2010
(LA, MA, NM, OR, PA).   
 NBB Resources
www.biodiesel.org
Biodiesel Training Toolkit
News Releases & Information Resources
Technical Library, Spec Sheets & Videos
OEM Warranty Positions on Biodiesel
 U.S. Diesel Vehicle List

www.BQ-9000.org
Listing of BQ-9000 Certified Companies

www.biotrucker.com
Listing of BioTrucker retail sites
www.allthingsbiodiesel.com
Biodiesel merchandise, literature, pump labels
and more!