Alternative Fuel

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• Alternative Fuel
• Biodiesel role of standard
• Caswell Hlongwane

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Def ASTM D 6751Fuel comprised of mono-alkyl
esters of long chain fatty acids derived from
vegetables or animal fats, designated B100
WHAT IS BIODIESEL FUEL
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Bxx a blend of biodiesel with petroleum-based
diesel fuel with xx representing volume
percentage of biodiesel fuel
NOTATION
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ALLOWED FEEDSTOCKS vegetable oils

• Soybean oil
• Sunflower oil
• Canola oil
• Spent oil
• Biofuels Industrial Strategy of the Republic of
  South Africa, Dec 2007

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HOW IS BIODIESEL FUEL PRODUCED
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HOW IS BIODIESEL PRODUCED

• React three moles of vegetable oil with six moles
  methanol and one mole of potassium or sodium
  hydroxide
• Boil the mixture whiles stirring for 3hrs
• Wash biodiesel layer four times with water
• Recover unused methanol by simple distillation
• Purify biodiesel by vacuum distillation
• Store over magnesium sulfate
• Add antioxidants to improve oxidative stability
  of biodiesel

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IS BIODIESEL PRODUCED FIT TO BE BLENDED WITH
DIESEL FUEL

• SANS 1935 2004
• Regulated Specification
• Petroleum Products Act (120/1977)Regulations
  petroleum products specification and standards,
  gazetted June 23, 2006

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SANS 1935 requirements, total of 30

• Six general observations
• Twenty six test methods

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BIODESEL FUEL TEST METHODS

• Methods only specific to biodiesel fuel, 14
• Standard test method for each property
• Type of test
• Reasons why limits are set for each tested
  property

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ESTER CONTENT

• Specification defines minimum mass percentage of
  96.5 FAME
• Standard test method recommended by SANS 1935 is
  EN 14103
• GC-FID test method

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Why set minimum ester content for biodiesel

• Proving illegal admixture with other substances
  when neat
• In conjunction with EN 14078, one is able to
  determine tax allowance when blended with
  petroleum-based diesel fuel

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FREE GLYCEROL

• SANS 1935 stipulates maximum value of 0.02 mass
  fraction of free glycerol in biodiesel
• Standard test method for determination of free
  glycerol is EN 14106
• GC-FID test method

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Why set a maximum limit for free glycerol in
biodiesel fuel

• Free glycerol separates from biodiesel during
  storage and in fuel tanks
• Free glycerol attracts other polar compounds such
  as soaps, monoglycerides, etc., and causes damage
  to the fuel injection system
• Free glycerol corrodes metals in the fuel system
• Free glycerol is also know to clog the fuel filter

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METHANOL CONTENT

• SANS 1935 limits methanol content to a maximum of
  0.20 by mass
• Standard test method is EN 14110
• GC-FID headspace test method

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WHY LIMIT METHANOL IN BIODIESEL

• Low flash point of methanol poses safety risk
  during
• Storage
• Transportation

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Iodine Number and Linolenic acid methyl ester

• Iodine number is a measure of total unsaturation
  of biodiesel
• SANS 1935 limits total iodine number to a maximum
  of 120 gI2/100g biodiesel using EN 14111, a
  titration method
• SANS 1935 also limits linolenic acid methyl ester
  to a maximum 12 by mass using EN 14103, GC-FID
  test method

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Why Regulate the Degree of Unsaturation of FAME
in Biodiesel

• Fuels with high iodine number polymerize at high
  temps and form deposits on
• Injector nozzles
• Piston ring grooves
• These polymers also reduce lubricity of FAME
• Highly unsaturated FAMEs have low oxidation
  stability leading to degradation products that
  lead to poor engine operability

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ACID VALUE

• Measure of neutralization number of mineral acids
  and FFA in biodiesel
• SANS 1935 limits acid value of biodiesel to a
  maximum of 0.50 mg/g biodiesel
• Standard test method is EN 14104
• Titration test method KOH/EtOH, Phenolphthalein

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ACID VALUE why regulate

• Corrosion within the engine
• Deposits within the engine

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PHOSPHORUS CONTENT

• Phosphorus in biodiesel comes from phospholipids
  contained in the feedstock

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PHOSPHORUS CONTENT IN BIODIESEL

• SANS 1935 limits phosphorus in biodiesel fuel to
  a maximum of 10 ppm
• The standard test method recommended is EN 14107
• ICP-OES

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PHOSPHORUS IN BIODIESEL why regulate

• Phosphorus decreases efficiency of oxidation
  catalytic converters
• Increased emission of particulate matter

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Biodiesel Alkali Alkali Earth Metal Content

• Alkali metals end up in biodiesel during
  production
• Alkali earth metals mostly originate from use of
  hard water during washing stage
• SANS 1935 limits alkali and alkali earth metals
  to a sum maximum of 5 ppm, respectively
• ICP-OES

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Why Limit Amounts of Group I and II Metals

• Na and K form ash in the engine
• Ca and Mg are responsible for getting the
  injector pump sticky

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Problems that may arise with the use biodiesel
fuel that does not meet SANS 1935

• Tax evasion
• Damage to the fuel injection system
• Corrosion of metals in the fuel system
• Clogging of fuel filter
• Safety risks during storage and transportation
• Sticky injector pump

• Deposits on injector nozzles and piston ring
  grooves
• Poisoned oxidation catalytic convertor
• Increased emission of particulate matter
• Ash formation in the engine

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SUMMARY why do we need biodiesel fuel standard

• Guideline for production process
• Guarantee users a quality fuel
• Approved tool for assessment of safety risks and
  environmental pollution
• Offer engine and automobile manufactures
  assurances to release warranties for their
  vehicles to be operated on specific fuels

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References

• Biodiesel the comprehensive handbook, Martin
  Mittelbach and Claudia Remschmidt, 2004
• Petrol and Diesel in South Africa, SAPIA, 2008
• Significance of tests for petroleum products, Ed
  7, Salvatore J Rand, 2003
• The biodiesel handbook, Gehard Knothe, Jon van
  Gerpen, and Jurgen Krahl, 2005
• SANS 19352004, Ed 1, Automotive biodiesel fuel,
  Standards South Africa
• Biofuels industrial strategy of the republic of
  South Africa, Department of Minerals and Energy,
  2007
• Petroleum Products Act (120/1977)Regulations
  petroleum products specification and standards,
  gazetted June 23, 2006

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The End

• Thank you