Fuel Terminology & Technology
The Canadian General Standards Board recognizes biodiesel as a fuel composed of mono-alkl esters of long fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, designated as B100, and meeting the standards of either ASTM D6751 (American Society for Testing and Materials) specification or the European biodiesel standard, EN 14214.
The CGSB (Canadian General Standards Board) has recommended B5 as a minimum standard blend.
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Standards
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association has actively promoted the use of Biodiesel in Canada for 10 years, and as such takes an interest in ensuring that the highest standards of production and service are consistently delivered.
The CRFA supports the ASTM D6751 "Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels" and encourages all companies to actively test and deliver ASTM quality product.
Canada does have a specification for biodiesel blends for B1 - B5 blends, that standard is CAN/CGSB - 3.520 "Automotive Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel Containing Low Levels of Biodiesel Esters (B1 - B5)".
Biodiesel production is a complicated process, and delivering consistent quality is not easily accomplished.
For those reasons the CRFA is pleased to promote those companies that have demonstrated the ability to deliver consistent quality of product by adhering to the ASTM standard.
The CRFA also endorses the BQ-9000 quality program for biodiesel producers and marketers. This helps to ensure that ASTM D6751 quality biodiesel is produced and that that quality is maintained through the Market chain.
Product Specification
Biodiesel Blends Standard Canadian General Standards Board
The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) CAN/CGSB-3.520 Biodiesel B1-5 Standard requires that the B100 component in blends between B1 and B5 biodiesel must comply with ASTM D6751 (or the European counterpart EN 14214).
The ASTM standard identifies the parameters pure biodiesel (B100) must meet before being blended with petroleum diesel.
ASTM D6751
Biodiesel product must meet all of the criteria of the latest version of ASTM D6751.
ASTM International is a consensus based standards group comprised of engine and fuel injection companies, fuel producers, and fuel users whose standards are recognized in the United States and Canada by most government entities.
The ASTM Biodiesel, Diesel and Heating Oil Standards are also provided.
EN 14214
The European specification EN14214 is very similar to the ASTM D6751, and is in fact slightly more stringent in a few areas since EN 14214 was developed with the use of B100 in mind vs. ASTM D 6751 that was developed with the use of B20 or lower blends in mind.
Therefore, the ASTM D6751 is the minimum acceptable specification that is acceptable as B100 biodiesel blend stock.
BQ9000
The CRFA has adopted the National Biodiesel Board BQ-9000 Accreditation Program as a system for monitoring the production, handling and distribution of biodiesel that maintains the fuel properties at the ASTM D6751 specification with rigorous requirements for sampling, testing, storage, retention of samples, blending and shipping.
Each shipment of B100 should be delivered with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
In most cases, the carrier will already have an MSDS. In the event the carrier does not, the fuel producer must provide one. More information is available at the following link:
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Any product marketed as biodiesel must meet the ASTM D6751 standard, and thus should be accompanied by a Material Safety Data Sheet providing product specifications and information relevant to Transportation Inspectors.
These are part of the requirements of the BQ9000 Quality Assurance Program adopted by the Biodiesel Association of Canada and further described below.
Warranties
Most OEM dealers and customer service departments currently tell their customers the use of up to 5% biodiesel (B5) is acceptable, with the requirement the pure biodiesel fuel adhere to the quality standards specified by American Society of Testing and Materials standard (ASTM D 6751) prior to blending.
Many OEM’s are also recommending biodiesel and biodiesel blends only be purchased from BQ-9000 certified companies, a guidance CRFA strongly supports. There are some OEM’s who tell their customers biodiesel blends up to B20 are acceptable, while others say anything up to B100 is acceptable. There can even be dramatic differences in the OEM advice on using biodiesel blends within different departments or dealers within the same company or brand.
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the diesel engine, fuel injection, and vehicle companies have formed the B20 Fleet Evaluation Team (B20 FET) to develop an informed, fact-based position on the use of up to a 20% biodiesel blend in diesel engine applications in the U.S. The CRFA supports this effort. The B20 FET has been active for over two years, and has identified a list of recommendations for users who wish to use B20 in their existing fleet. This list of recommendations titled, Technical Recommendations for B20 Fleet Use Based on Existing Data and dated June 2005 describes the specific advice for users who wish to use blends of B20. This would also apply to blends over B5 and below B20.
All engine and vehicle manufacturers provide a material and workmanship warranty on the products they manufacture. Such warranties do not cover damage or problems caused by external factors or elements they don’t produce or control, such as the type of fuel or additives used in the engine. Thus, if an engine experiences a failure that is caused by a fuel or a fuel additive – no matter if the fuel or additive is biodiesel, regular petroleum diesel, or an aftermarket additive - the damage generally will not be covered by the OEM’s equipment and workmanship warranty.
Transporting and Storage of Biodiesel
The transportation and unloading of biodiesel in its pure form or in blends should be done in accordance with best practices adopted by Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (Biodiesel Association of Canada), published and available download in the 2005 Fleet Manager’s Guide.
The BQ 9000 Quality Assurance Program adopted by the association and further discussed below provides several requirements for Transport and Unloading of B100 biodiesel and blends in order to ensure quality through the chain of custody.
Storage, Handling, Use
Most tanks designed to store diesel fuel will be adequate for storing B100. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene, teflon, and most fiberglass materials.
B100 will soften and degrade certain types of elastomers and rubber compounds over time. Using high percent blends can impact fuel system components (primarily fuel hoses and fuel pump seals) that contain compounds incompatible with B100. Manufacturers recommend that natural or butyl rubbers, polyvinyl, and Tygon not be allowed to come in contact with pure biodiesel or biodiesel blends higher than B20. Teflon, viton, and nylon have very little reaction to biodiesel and are among the materials that can be used to update incompatible equipment.
Over the past 15 years of use, blends of B20 or lower have not exhibited problematic elastomer or material degradation and no changes are recommended. If a fuel system does contain these materials and users wish to fuel with blends over B20, replacement with compatible materials is needed. In many instances, especially with older equipment, the exact composition of engine components can not be obtained and it is recommended they be replaced if using blends over B20.
Cleaning Effect of Biodiesel, B100
In some cases the use of petrodiesel, especially #2 petrodiesel, leaves a deposit in the bottom of fuel lines, tanks, and delivery systems over years of time. Biodiesel, B100, acts as a cleaning agent and can dissolve these sediments and result in fuel filter becoming clogged and the need to change filters more frequently until the whole system has been cleaned of the sediments left by the petrodiesel. This phenomenon has not been observed with B5 and lower blends, and occurs when first using B20 in about 2% of the cases, requiring 2 or 3 additional filter changes when first using the fuel. The cleaning effect of B20 and lower blends appears to increase the need for filter changes only with systems that have significant amounts of sediment.
Although experience is limited, with higher blend levels than B20 if any sediment is present it is brought up quickly and clogs filters immediately. The engine may be starved for fuel and stall. If the filter ruptures, this can cause a significant amount of debris and sediment to move into fuel lines, pumps and injectors resulting in an expensive repair that is not covered by warranty as the problem is not caused by an equipment defect but a ruptured fuel filter.
Users should also take into account cleaning effects, filter clogging, temperature and cloud point, excess air and water contamination considerations more fully detailed in the 2005 Fleet Managers Guide.
Cold Climate Conditions
Cold weather operability is one of the biggest concerns in Canada when considering B20 blends. Blends of B2 and B5 are less of a concern in this area, although they are still a consideration in the cloud-point certification of the blended fuel.
The cloud point is the most widely accepted measure of cold weather operability limits. On average, a B2 blend will warm the cloud point by 2°C to 3°C with Canadian diesel fuel. In general, a B20 blend will impact the finished fuel’s cold weather operational temperatures by 7°C to 12°C with Canadian diesel fuel. The actual warming of the cloud point is dependent upon the cloud point of the biodiesel fuel and that of the petroleum diesel fuel. Additives may be included by your biodiesel supplier to increase the fuel’s temperature operational range. Check with your supplier for details.
B100 should be stored at temperatures at least 6°C higher than the cloud point. Generally, storage temperatures of 10°C to 13°C are acceptable for most B100 fuels, although some B100 fuels may require higher storage temperatures. Cloud point and fuel temperature is also an important consideration when blending, as discussed under the Blending subheading below.
Fuel Stability
Short-term storage (1-4 months) of B100 has been very successful with little or no stability problems. The ASTM D4625 Test Method for Distillate Storage Stability at 43°C data suggests that biodiesel can be stored safely for eight months to a year depending on the type of fuel and the stability of that fuel. The NBB recommends a six-month storage life for B100. This statement is also included in the ASTM D6751 Specification for B100 Blend Stock. Any fuel stored for over six months may warrant the use of antioxidants and should be tested periodically for acid number, viscosity, and sediments.
Blending Requirements
Biodiesel must be blended using procedures that do not allow the temperature of B100 to drop below the cloud point, regardless of how it arrives. The cloud point of the biodiesel, the biodiesel temperature, the ambient temperature, and the time the fuel is in transit are all factors that must be taken into consideration.
Biodiesel has a pour point of from 0°C to 18°C— depending on the feedstock—and it therefore may require heating to ensure flow prior to being introduced into the generic distillate portion of your biodiesel blend. Also, the temperature of the generic distillate portion of the blend in its tank needs to be taken into consideration. Generally, suppliers will provide pre-blended product (B2, B5, B10, B20 etc.).
Filtration
Diligent and meticulous filtration methodology can help solve sediments, crystallization and degradation problems before they arise both in biodiesel and petroleum diesel products.
Filters of various sizes (ranging from 1 micron to 10 microns) can be applied to existing infrastructure to ensure quality through chain of custody. One very important consideration is whether the engine filters are the same size, or smaller, than those used in the fueling infrastructure.
Environmental & Safety Information
Biodiesel is less toxic than table salt and as biodegradable as sugar. In its pure form it can be handled, stored and transported under the same guidelines as vegetable oil.
The Material Safety Data Sheet will confirm that biodiesel B100 is not a hazardous material, and is considered non-flammable.
