Biofuel analysis – Quality assurance of biofuels
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Biofuel analysis Quality assurance of biofuels

• is the global market leader in titration • offers a complete portfolio for NIR and Raman analysis, in addition to all of the methods of • ion analysis – titration, voltammetry, and ion chromatography • is a Swiss company and manufactures exclusively in Switzerland • grants a 3-year instrument warranty and a 10-year warranty on chemical suppressors for anion chromatography • provides you with unparalleled application expertise • offers you more than 1800 applications free of charge • supports you with dependable on-site service worldwide • is not listed on the stock exchange, but is owned...

Metrohm – customized analysis for the biofuel industry A demanding industry Sustainable use of biofuels requires reliable and precise analytical methods throughout – from the choice of raw materials through to process optimization and on to the compliant final product. As a leading manufacturer of instruments for chemical analysis, we are quite aware of these challenges. We offer you state-of-the-art instrumentation helping you to check and improve the quality of biofuels and corresponding blends as well as to comply with the standards – in your laboratory but also atline and online in the...

Quality assurance of biofuels 04 Keen interest in biofuels Interest in biofuels has greatly increased in recent years. The reasons are the diminishing reserves of crude oil and the simultaneous increasing demand for mineral oil as well as the environmental problems linked with burning fossil fuels. In addition to a neutral CO2 balance, bioge­ ic n fuels are generally characterized by their very good mi­­ cro­­ biological degradability, which is why they are suitable for use in ecologically sensitive areas. Furthermore, alternative fuels can usually be produced locally and ther­­ eby reduce...

Selected standards from the field of biofuel analysis Minimum requirements and test methods To ensure the quality of (bio)fuels, there are standards in place that set minimum requirements in the form of limits for impurities and the test methods to be used. Metrohm instruments are highly suitable to carry out the Biodiesel Biodiesel is sold as a pure fuel and in blends with fossil fuels. The minimum requirements are set out in the spe­­ ci­­ fications EN 14214 (pure fuel and blend stock) and ASTM D6751 (only blend stock). EN 14213 describes the prescribed test methods listed below to check...

pHe value and conductivity measurement 06 Bioethanol pHe value A combined pH glass electrode with ground-joint diaphragm is recommended for measuring the pH value in organic solvents. Because pHe determination according to ASTM D6423 and EN 15490 is time-controlled, it is essential that the sensor has a rapid response time. The EtOH-Trode with a special membrane glass and the very precise fixed ground-joint diaphragm is particularly suitable for measuring the pHe values of biofuels. The doublejunction system allows the free choice of the elec­­ trolyte (e.g., 3 mol/L KCl in ASTM D6423 and 1...

Titration Biodiesel Acid number The acid number is a sum parameter for all acidic components; at the same time it is a measure for the long-term stability and corrosiveness of the biofuel. The smaller the value, the higher the quality. Standard EN 14104 sti­ u­ p lates a nonaqueous potentiometric acid-base titration for determining the acid number. This involves dissolving the sample in a bioethanol-diethyl ether mixture and titrating it with potassium hydroxide dissolved in 2-propa­ ol n (0.1 mol/L). As organic solvents are used, the manual working steps should be reduced to a minimum....

Bioethanol Chloride content The chloride content in bioethanol fuels is the subject of ASTM D512. Quantitation can be carried out by mercurimetric or argentometric titration or by direct determination with a Cl-selective electrode. Argentometric titration (with silver nitrate) is the method of choice because of its environmental advantages and very high precision. A de­­ fined volume of the sample is pipetted into the titration cell, treated with 5 mL nitric acid (2 mol/L), and then tit­­ ted against silver nitrate solution (0.01 mol/L). Ac­­ ra­ cor­ dingly, EN 15484 in EN 15376 describes...

The Titrando – the allrounder for potentiometric titration The wide range of potentiometric applications for biofuels requires a highly flexible titrator. No other titration system offers more flexibility and ease of use than the Titrando. • With Touch Control or tiamo – titration and more – operation is perfectly easy. • The space-saving Dosino technology with numerous liquid handling functions simplifies sample preparation and allows automatic preparation and emptying of burets without operator intervention – it is no longer necessary to handle organic solvents. • Intelligent dosing units...

Water determination according to Karl Fischer 10 The presence of water in biofuels reduces their calorific value and increases the corrosion rate. Biodiesel Water as a contaminant Water hydrolyzes the ester bonds of fatty acid methyl esters, leading to the formation of fatty acids. Consuming additional NaOH, these acids form soaps, which make the subsequent removal of glycerol more difficult. Biodiesel with a high water content has a clearly lower oxidation stability. The lower the latter, the greater the probability that oxidation products will be formed during a longer storage period....

Bioethanol Gasoline-alcohol blends Bioethanol is mixed with gasoline in various ratios to reduce both the demand for gasoline and environmental pollution. The gasoline-alcohol blend is known in the USA as gasohol and in Brazil as Gasolina Tipo C. In the USA, the mixtures E10 and E85, which contain 10 and 85% bioethanol respectively, are widespread. In Brazil, the bio­ ethanol content of most blends lies between 21 and 23%. Test methods The ASTM E1064 «Standard Test Method for Water in Organic Liquids by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration» and EN 15489 standards describe the coulometric Karl...