"Biofuels"
are transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel that are made from biomass
materials. These fuels are usually blended with the petroleum fuels — gasoline
and diesel fuel, but they can also be used on their own.
USES
OF BIODIESEL:
Biodiesel is an
environmental friendly fuel generally produced from edible and non-edible
vegetable oils. It can partly or fully
replace diesel as a direct fuel. Practically, Biodiesel can be used in every diesel engine powered vehicle on the roads. (Millions
of miles were logged on biodiesel in EU nations). It is used in road
construction, mining, farm machinery and in marine engines safely. With new
power generation capacity coming online, Biodiesel makes an attractive choice
to meet the regulations. Many stationary applications are permitted sources
requiring exhaust emission control system, which will work well with biodiesel
but will not work with diesel fuel. With many states now mandating hybrid
electric vehicles (including the fuel cell hybrid), biodiesel will make excellent
reforming fuel.
Physical properties of
Biodiesel :
Colour : Deep yellow to dark brown
Kinematic
Viscoscity at 40Deg C : 4.0-14.0
mm2/SEC
Sp. Gr. : 0.86 - 0.90
Ash (% by mass) : <0.2
Sulphur : Nil
Boiling point : 240-360 deg C
Flash Point (Closed up) : 120 deg C min.
Comparison
of Biodiesel vis-à-vis diesel
|
Comparison
of Specifications diesel / Biodiesel.
|
|
Sl No
|
Property
|
Units
|
BIS Limits diesel
|
BIS Limits Biodiesel
|
|
|
1
|
Density at 15 0C
|
kg/m3
|
820 - 860
|
860 - 900
|
|
|
2
|
Viscocity at 40 0C
|
mm2/s(cst)
|
2 - 5
|
2.5 - 6.0
|
|
|
3
|
Flash Point (Closed Cup)
|
0C
(min)
|
66
|
120
|
|
|
4
|
Sulphur Content
|
mg/kg (max)
|
500
|
50
|
|
|
5
|
Carbon Residue
|
% mass max
|
0.3
|
0.05
|
|
|
6
|
Acid Number
|
mg KOH/gm max
|
To report
|
0.5
|
|
7
|
Cetane Number
|
min
|
48
|
51
|
|
|
8
|
Ash Content
|
% mass max
|
0.01
|
0.02
|
|
|
9
|
Moisture Content
|
mg/kg (max)
|
NA
|
500
|
|
|
10
|
Total Contaminations
|
mg/kg (max)
|
24
|
24
|
|
|
11
|
Copper Corrosion Test (at 50 0C
for 3 hrs max)
|
Rating/Class
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
12
|
Oxidation Stability at 110 0C
|
hrs.min
|
NA
|
6
|
|
|
13
|
Ester Content
|
% mass min
|
NA
|
96.5
|
|
|
14
|
Methanol Content
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
0.2
|
|
|
15
|
Monoglyceride Content
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
16
|
Diglyceride Content
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
17
|
Triglyceride Content
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
18
|
Free Glycerin
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
0.02
|
|
|
19
|
Total Glycerin
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
0.25
|
|
|
20
|
Iodine Value
|
gm I2/100 gm
|
NA
|
To report
|
|
|
21
|
Linolenic Acid Methyl Ester
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
|
22
|
Polyunsaturated Methyl Esters
|
% mass max
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
23
|
Phosphorus Content
|
mg/kg (max)
|
NA
|
10
|
|
|
24
|
Alkali Content (Na + K)
|
ppm (mg/kg) max
|
NA
|
To report
|
|
|
25
|
Alkaline Earth Metals (Ca + Mg)
|
ppm (mg/kg) max
|
NA
|
To report
|
|
01. Comparison of
Biodiesel vis-à-vis LDO Fuel :
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technical
Specification
|
BIS Standard for
LDO
|
LDO of oil
Marketing companies
|
Biodiesel
|
Remarks
|
|
Calorific Value, in Kcal/kg
|
9900 - 10500
|
10300
|
9900 - 10500
|
very similar to LDO
|
|
Ash% Mass, Max
|
0.02
|
0.01-0.02
|
0.01
|
Lower the ash better the performance
|
|
Carbon Residue (Ramsbottom) on 10% residue % by Mass, Max
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
<1.0
|
lower the carbon residue, better the performance
|
|
Density in Kg/M3
|
To be reported
|
<890
|
870-900
|
Very similar to that of LDO
|
|
Kinematic Viscosity @ 40 Deg.C. in cst
|
5-15.7
|
5-15.7
|
4-14
|
Lower the viscosity better the performance
|
|
Biodegradability
|
Poor Biodegradability
|
|
Degrades readily
|
|
|
Toxicity
|
Highly Toxic
|
|
Essentially non toxic
|
|
|
Fuel type
|
Polluting Non renewable
|
|
Clean renewable
|
|
|
Shipping
|
Hazardous
|
|
Non Hazardous Non
Flammable
|
|
|
Total Sulphur % by mass. Max
|
1.8
|
1.5-1.8
|
Almost nil
|
Lesser the sulphur content better the efficiency and more
eco-friendly
|
|
Water content, % by volume, Max
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
0.05-0.20
|
Lesser water content yields better effect
|
|
Flash Point in Deg.C Min
|
66
|
66
|
>120
|
Higher the flash point, safer the fuel & no need of
explosive or storage license
|
Sectors using Biodiesel :
Presently our customers are
using Biodiesel for the following usages –
i)
Textile industries
uses as coning oil.
ii)
Chemical industries
for usage as lubricant.
iii)
Jute industries as
replacement of jute batching oil.
iv)
Marine industries
replacing diesel by Biodiesel for fishing tra wler.
v)
Mining industries
for use in the heavy duty earth moving equipment.
vi)
Stationery power
generation industry for testing oil in boiler.
vii)
Pharma
and Hotel Industries are replacing diesel with bio-diesel as a boiler fuel.