Testing & Certification Services

The Bio-Energy Center provides a number of biofuel testing and certification services, for everyone from home hobbyists to large corporations. Click on one of our services for more information.

ASTM Biodiesel Certification

Oil Analysis Testing

Biodiesel Feedstock Analysis

 

ASTM Biodiesel Certification

The Bio-Energy Center is equipped to perform all the tests (except Cetane) included in the ASTM D6751 specification for neat biodiesel (B100).  All tests are performed in accordance to ASTM procedures.  Instruments are calibrated and maintained regularly to ensure a high degree of accuracy in every test we perform for our clients. Together with our Performance Testing capability, it is our mission to provide prompt and comprehensive testing services for the growing bio-fuels industry in Montana. The tests listed below are required for ASTM biodiesel fuel certification. 

The Testing Center also has biodiesel testing packages available for the hobbyist biodiesel producer. This package of tests will not certify your biodiesel, but will determine if the fuel is reacted completely and purified correctly, giving the hobbyist peace of mind when using their biodiesel in their own vehicles.

Pricing:

The Testing Center’s Biodiesel Certification Lab was established through Montana State funding to support the emerging biodiesel industry in Montana.  To this end, the Testing Center offers a discount to Montana residents and Montana-based biodiesel companies for certification of biodiesel.  Please contact the Testing Center for further pricing information.

ASTM D6751 Tests

(Please click on a test below to read more)

Flash Point

ASTM D 93
Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Test
Flash point is the minimum temperature at which the fuel will ignite (flash) in air on application of an ignition source. It is important in assessing the flammability hazard of a material. Biodiesel has a significantly higher flashpoint than petroleum-based diesel fuel, and is safer to handle and offers lesser flammability hazard.

Depending on starting vegetable oil, typical biodiesel exhibits a flash point in the range of 175° to 190° C. Incomplete conversion of oil during manufacturing creates a higher flash point and may lead to poor ignition and clogging of fuel lines and filters during cold weather operations. A lower flash point on the other hand is indicative of poor methanol removal during processing and may cause premature ignition and excessive emission.

Water & Sediment

ASTM D 2709
Centrifugation
Insufficient removal of water after the washing step during manufacturing and improper storage may lead to excessive amounts of water in biodiesel.  Appreciable amount of water may lead to poor ignition and corrosion of vital components such as pumps and fuel lines.  Water also promotes microbial growth in biodiesel. High amounts of sediments in biodiesel may be cause by improper handling and may lead to clogging of fuel lines and filter during operation.

Kinematic Viscosity

ASTM D 445
Determination at 40°C
Viscosity is defined as the resistance of fluid to flow under specific conditions. A biodiesel sample that exceeds the maximum viscosity set by ASTM standard is very likely to exhibit high flash point and glycerin contents as well, normally caused by incomplete conversion during manufacturing. Appreciable amounts of incompletely reacted vegetable oil result in poor low-temperature flow properties, leading to fuel pump failure and clogging of fuel lines and filters during cold weather operations.

Sulfated Ash

ASTM D 874
Sulfated ash is the residue remaining after the carbonization and treatment with sulfuric acid of a fuel sample.  Levels of sulfated ash are indicative of metal-containing additives present in biodiesel.

Sulfur

ASTM D 5453
Ultraviolet Fluorescence
Sulfur is a common contaminant in petroleum-based fuels and has been identified as a major contributor to diesel particulate matter emissions. The process of removing sulfur in conventional diesel fuel reduces the fuel lubricity. Biodiesel on the other hand, contains little or no sulfur. With the introduction of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) in the market as mandated by the EPA, the use of biodiesel becomes more beneficial because of biodiesel's inherent lubricity. 

Copper Strip Corrosion

ASTM D 130
Copper Strip Tarnish Test
The copper strip corrosion test is used to assess the tendency of the fuel to cause corrosion, a measure of how harmful a fuel is to the copper and brass components of a fuel system. Certain forms of sulfur contaminant in petroleum-based diesel fuel can have a corroding effect on some metals. Biodiesel is generally less corrosive to conventional diesel fuel.

Cloud Point

ASTM 2500
Cloud point is the temperature at which the high freezing point components start to crystallize (causing cloudiness in the sample) upon cooling. The cloud point of biodiesel is mainly dictated by the fatty acid profile of the feedstock. While it is well established that the presence of saturated components increases the cloud point of biodiesel, appreciable amounts of mono-, di-, and triglycerides in biodiesel as a result of incomplete conversion also result in higher cloud point. High cloud point causes operability problems during cold weather operations as solidified materials clog fuel lines and filters.Significantly lower cloud point may indicate that the biodiesel sample is treated with an additive.
NOTE: This equipment determines both cloud point and pour point of test liquid in a single unit.

Carbon Residue

ASTM 4530
Micro Method
Carbon residue refers to the residue formed by evaporation and thermal degradation of a carbon containing material. It is a measure of the tendency of biodiesel to form carbon deposits.

Acid Number

ASTM D 664
Titrimetric Method
Acid number is a measure of the acidic components in biodiesel. A high acid number could be associated with high free fatty acid as a result of using poor quality feed stock, the presence of processing acids (e.g. residual acid catalyst, residual acid from washing step), or an old biodiesel sample. High levels of free fatty acid are not desirable in biodiesel because of its strong solvency effect on rubber seals and hoses in the engine.

Free & Total Glycerine

ASTM D 6584
Gas Chromatography
Free and total glycerin includes the residual glycerin (a co-product of transesterification) and the bonded glycerin in the form of mono-, di-, and triglycerides in the biodiesel sample. Unlike other fuel properties, free and total glycerin is the direct measure of the degree of conversion of oil to biodiesel. Low levels of free and total glycerin suggest high conversion of oil to biodiesel and proper purification steps. High levels of total glycerin suggests the presence of incompletely reacted vegetable oil that may lead to injector fouling, formation of deposits at the injection nozzle, poor combustion conditions, and clogging of fuel lines and filters during cold weather operations.

Distillation Temperature

ASTM D 1160
Vacuum Distillation Method
Distillation is a measure of the volatility of a fuel. Biodiesel typically exhibits distillation temperatures in the range of 330° to 357° C.  Biodiesel samples with distillation temperatures higher than the maximum set by ASTM standard may suggest the presence of incompletely reacted oil, and will cause operability problems associated with high levels of glycerin.

Oxidation Stability

EN 14112
Oxidation stability is a measure of the fuel resistance to degradation by atmospheric oxygen. High levels of unsaturated components in biodiesel results in low oxidation stability. Biodiesel with low oxidation stability degrades easier in the presence of air, and can't be stored for long periods. While vegetable oil with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids is produces biodiesel with better low-temperature flow properties, the high levels of unsaturated components also make the biodiesel susceptible to oxidation.The presence of saturated components in biodiesel is therefore desirable to some extent.

Phosphorus Content

ASTM D 4951
ICP
Phosphorus can damage catalytic converters, affecting their performance, and generates hard deposits on piston crowns, valves and injectors.

Calcium & Magnesium Content
Sodium & Potasium Content

EN 14538
ICP
These metals may be present in biodiesel as abrasive solids that promote engine wear, or as soluble metallic soaps that may cause filter plugging. Sodium and potassium soaps are especially common contaminants in biodiesel, because of the extensive use of sodium or potassium hydroxide as catalysts in biodiesel manufacturing.

Low-Temperature Flow Performance

The Center is also equipped with a Refrigerated/Heating Circulator that allows us to deterime the viscosity, cloud point, and pour point of test samples in a wide range of temperatures (-50° to 200° C). With increasing concern for the performance of biodiesel during cold weather operations, this system is suitable for evaluating the performance of pour point depressant and anti-gels intended to improve the low-temperature properties of biodiesel. It can also assess the performance of novel biolubricants in a wide range of temperatures.

Oil Analysis Testing

Oil analysis testing is an accepted practice used in the maintenance of automotive and diesel engines. Oil tests are used to prevent unexpected equipment down-time due to improper maintenance or catastrophic component failure by monitoring wear an engine is experiencing. It can also reduce repair costs and allow fleet managers to forecast costs of repairs and schedule down time for equipment repair. Oil tests help fleet managers extend the intervals between oil changes by as much as 20% by not discarding oils that still has useful life.

Oil Analysis Test Descriptions

Additives & Contaminants -- An additive is a chemical substance added to a petroleum product to impart or improve certain properties. Common additives are: antifoam agent, anti-wear additive, corrosion inhibitor, demulsifier, detergent, dispersant, emulsifier, EP additive, oiliness agent, oxidation inhibitor, pour point depressant, rust inhibitor, tackiness agent, viscosity index improver. A contaminant is any foreign or unwanted substance that can have a negative effect on system operation, life or reliability. 

Fuel Soot -- Used to determine combustion efficiency. Soot can be caused by over-fueling, air restrictions, blow-by, excessive engine brake use and/or excessive exhaust back-pressure. Fuel soot is reported as a percentage of volume. 

Glycol -- Glycol is a test used to check oil for contamination from a glycol product such as antifreeze. Levels should range from 40% to 60% to ensure proper freeze point protection. A high percentage of glycol can cause additive drop out and shorten coolant life.

Nitration -- Nitration products are formed during the fuel combustion process in internal combustion engines. Most nitration products are formed when an excess of oxygen is present. These products are highly acidic, form deposits in combustion areas and rapidly accelerate oxidation. Nitration indicates excessive "blow-by" from cylinder walls and/or compression rings. It also indicates the presence of nitric acid, which speeds up oxidation. As oxidation/nitration increases, so will total acid number and viscosity, while total base number will begin to decrease. 

Oxidation -- Oxidation measures the breakdown of a lubricant due to age and operating conditions. Oxidation occurs when oxygen attacks petroleum fluids. The process is accelerated by heat, light, metal catalysts and the presence of water, acids, or solid contaminants. It leads to increased viscosity and deposit formation. It prevents additives from performing properly and therefore allows acid content and viscosity to increase. 

Total Acid Number -- Measures the amount of acid present in the oil. Technically, the quantity of base (expressed in milligrams of potassium hydroxide) required to neutralize all acidic constituents present in one gram of sample. Total Acid Number is the Numbers higher than that of new lubricant is an indication of oxidation or contamination of some kind. 

Viscosity -- A measure of a lubricant's resistance to flow (fluid thickness) at a given temperature. Viscosity is considered the most important physical property of oil. Depending on lube grade, viscosity is tested at 40 C. and/or 100C. Reported in Centistokes. 

Viscosity Index -- Viscosity Index represents an oil's change in viscosity with respect to changes in temperature. The viscosity index of oil is determined experimentally by testing its viscosity at 40C. and 100C.

Water -- Measure the amount of water in the oil. Water in oil decreases lubricity, prevents additives from performing properly and furthers oxidation. 

Spectrometric Analysis -- Metals content in lubricating oil is determined by subjecting the oil sample to an excitation which creates spectral lines of the oil metals where their identity and concentration may be measured. Spectroscopic methods include atomic emission, inductively coupled plasma, atomic absorption, and X-ray fluorescence. All of these methods are capable of determining additive and wear metals. The Testing Center is able to perform inductively couple plasma analysis.

Spectrometric analysis can be used to determine changes in oil formulation, relative engine component wear, and contamination. A common problem made in the interpretation of used oil analysis, particularly with spectrometric analysis, is whether one or more of the metals is above a limit. As discussed below, a trending approach is a better way to interpret results from a spectrometric analysis. Systematic errors from sampling and the analysis itself make the declaration of whether a single sample result is abnormal or critical somewhat suspect. 

It must be recognized that only metals which have chemically reacted with the oil and particles below one micron in size are analyzed by this technique. Gross wear debris will not be detected. Generally, chemically generated wear debris tracks with particulate wear.

Infrared Spectroscopy -- Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) is one of the most versatile test techniques available for both new and used oil analysis. 

When used with other analysis techniques the IR becomes a very powerful analytical tool.

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) is a relatively new variation to IR made possible by the availability of on-board instrument computers. FTIR has the advantage of speed, short analytical cycle time, small sample size requirements, and can adapt well to automation. The disadvantage of using IR more widely in used oil analysis is that a new oil sample is required and that interpretation of the data could be rather complex. The computerized instruments with their resident libraries of compounds are helping to minimize these concerns. The Bio-Energy Center is capable of performing FTIR Analysis.

Biodiesel Feedstock Analysis

Vegetable oils still remain the most competitive renewable feed stocks that can be used to replace petroleum in producing fuels and other industrially important oils such as fuel additives, biolubricants and bioplastics. The nature and quality of vegetable oil is as important as the process of making biodiesel and other bio-based industrial oils. The nature of vegetable oil in terms of its origin and fatty acid profile is important in evaluating their suitability in a wide range of industrial applications. Good quality vegetable oil is the key in producing high quality biodiesel and bio-based oils. For biodiesel production the presence of water and free fatty acids in vegetable oil makes the processing more complicated resulting to low conversion and poor quality biodiesel.

The Testing Center is capable of conducting the following vegetable oil analysis and characterization to determine their suitability in producing biodiesel, biolubricants and other bio-based materials.