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Biodeisel Using FuelPro

1) The document discusses the use of the Teledyne FuelPro instrument to analyze biodiesel samples for phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium content to determine if the samples meet ASTM D-6751 standards. 2) Analysis of a biodiesel sample found levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and sodium that were within ASTM limits, indicating the sample passed specification. 3) The FuelPro instrument was able to detect analytes at levels below those required by ASTM standards, demonstrating its suitability for biodiesel quality control testing.

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36 views

Biodeisel Using FuelPro

1) The document discusses the use of the Teledyne FuelPro instrument to analyze biodiesel samples for phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium content to determine if the samples meet ASTM D-6751 standards. 2) Analysis of a biodiesel sample found levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and sodium that were within ASTM limits, indicating the sample passed specification. 3) The FuelPro instrument was able to detect analytes at levels below those required by ASTM standards, demonstrating its suitability for biodiesel quality control testing.

Uploaded by

Sylab Instruments
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FuelPro Application Note: 1050

The Determination of Phosphorous, Sulfur, Sodium,


Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium in Biodiesel
using the Teledyne FuelPro

Introduction

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from vegetable oil, animal fats, and waste cooking oils.
Feedstocks such as soy, canola, mustard, sunflower, coconut, palm and cottonseed oil as well as
beef tallow and fish oils have been used to manufacture biodiesel.
As a result of the world’s energy demands, the use of biodiesel is increasing rapdily. Blends of
biodiesel with conventional petroleum diesel represent a common use of biodiesel. In the United
States, “B20” (a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) is recognized as an alternative
diesel fuel. Biodiesel has a number of advantages. Some of these include:
1. Reduction of toxic exhaust emissions – lower amounts of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon
monoxide (CO) and particulate emissions (PM)
2. Greenhouse gas savings – Carbon Dioxide (CO2) produced by burning biodiesel is used by
subsequent crops used to produce the fuel
3. Fast biodegradability – Approximately 4-5 times as fast as petroleum diesel
4. Lower toxicity than petrodiesel
5. Higher flashpoint than petroleum diesel – 150oC vs. 70oC
6. Can be used in diesel engines with little or no modification

Since the presence of contaminants can lead to operational problems, the American Society for
Testing and Material (ASTM) and European Standard (EN) have developed standards to which pure
biodiesel (B100) can be tested. The ASTM Standard is D-6751 shown in Table 1.

6 Wentworth Drive • Hudson, NH 03051 U.S.A.


Tel: 603 886 8400 • Fax: 603 886 9141 • www.leemanlabs.com
Property ASTM Method Biodiesel Specification (B100)
Limits Units

Flash Point 93 130 min °C


Water and Sediment 2709 0.05 max % volume
Kinematic Viscosity mm2/sec
445 1.9 – 6.0
(40oC)
Sulfated Ash 874 0.02 max Max wt. %
15 (S15) ppm
Sulfur 5453
500 (S500)
Copper strip Corrosion 130 No. 3 max
Cetane Number 613 47 min
o
Cloud Point 2500 Report C
Carbon Residue 4530 0.050 max wt%
Acid Number 664 0.080 max mg KOH/g
Free Glycerol 6584 0.020 wt%
Total Glycerol 6584 0.240 wt %
Phosphorus 4951 10 max ppm
o
Vacuum Distillation End C
1160 360
Point
Total Combined Na + K UOP -391 5 ppm
Total Combined Ca + Mg 5 ppm
Table 1 ASTM D-6751
Physical, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods are used to apply the standard. This application
note will focus on the use of FuelPro Biodiesel Metals Analyzer to apply the ASTM standard.

Instrumentation
Accurate elemental analysis of biodiesel requires analytical methodology that is both sensitive and
selective. FuelPro meets these requirements and has the capability of determining up to 70 different
elements in a sample. FuelPro permits close monitoring of elemental content throughout processing,
starting with the raw oil to the finished product. Trace metal analysis is an important part of quality
control as well as quality checks of the finished products.

FuelPro can easily measure the elemental parameters of the D-6751 standards. The effects of the
biodiesel not meeting the specification are listed below:

Phosphorus – Phosphorus has been shown to damage the ability of after-treatment systems to
reduce exhaust emissions as intended. The influence of phosphorus is cumulative; and as a
result, very low levels of contamination over the significant amount of fuel consumed by an
engine may lead to unexpected deterioration of the after treatment system.

Alkali and Alkaline Metals – Sodium and potassium hydroxides are utilized as catalysts and
magnesium and calcium as absorbents in the production of biodiesel and should be removed
through the biodiesel production process. These residual metals can form deposits in fuel
injection system components and poison emission control after-treatment systems.

Sulfur – Sulfur levels in fuel are regulated by various governmental agencies to assure
compatibility with emission standard requirements. In the United States there are currently three
sulfur grades: S5000, S500, and S15, for both D1 and D2 petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends
may not exceed the applicable maximum sulfur levels as defined for petroleum diesel.

2
Method
Biodiesel samples were prepared by simply diluting 1:10 with kerosene. The FuelPro was calibrated
with standards prepared by diluting Plasma-Pure biodiesel stock standards. Standard concentrations
were at the 0.00 ppm, 10.0 ppm and 20.00 ppm levels for Na, K, Cu, Mg, P and S.

FuelPro’s preprogrammed method was followed for the set-up and analysis of biodiesel.

Results
The values obtained as a result of the FuelPro analysis of a B100 biodiesel sample are shown in Table
2. All concentrations are given in ppm. The concentrations in the original sample are listed in the column
labeled “Final Concentration ppm” (“ND” indicated the analyte was not detected).

The results indicate this biodiesel sample passes the ASTM D-6751 standard. The result for sulfur
indicates it successfully passes the S-15 low sulfur designation that all highway diesel fuels have to meet
from 2007 onward.

Final Concentration
ppm

P 213.618 r ND
Ca 317.933 r 0.129
Mg 285.213 r 0.039
S 180.731 r 8.226
K 766.491 r 0.511
Na 589.592 r 0.252
Table 2 Analysis Results
Table 3 contains typical detections limits (DL) obtained in the oil matrix. The DLs were determined by
taking 3 replicates measurements in blank oil and multiplying the standards deviation by three. The
detection limits indicate that the FuelPro can easily measure the analyte levels required for ASTM D-
6751.

Element DL, ppm


P 213.618 r .0227
Ca 317.933 r .0029
Mg 285.213 r .0009
S 180.731 r 0.114
K 766.491 r .070
Na 589.592 r .0193
Table 3 Detection Limits

3
Conclusion

Biodiesel is easily analyzed using the FuelPro Biofuel Metal Analyzer. The detection limit capability of
the instrument easily meets the requirements of the ASTM and EN Standards against which biodiesel
must be measured.

Samples are easily prepared by dilution with a suitable solvent. Excellent recoveries are obtained from
spiked biodiesel samples. This indicated that the method is suitable for the analysis of biodiesel fuels
and that matrix interferences are not a problem.

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