At Spectro Scientific, we offer two industry state of the art biodiesel testing products: FluidScan® Q1000 and the InfraCal 2 Biodiesel Blend Analyzer. The InfraCal 2 Biodiesel Blend Analyzer is for percent biodiesel in diesel measurements is a fixed-filter infrared analyzer. It offers added sensitivity and features for applications that require more options. Biodiesel can be used in any concentration with petroleum based diesel fuel in existing diesel engines with little or no modification. Biodiesel is not the same thing as raw vegetable oil. A chemical process that removes the glycerin from the oil produces Biodiesel. This chemical process is called transesterification, whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products — methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products). FluidScan provides immediate on-site analysis of critical parameters necessary for the production and distribution of high quality biodiesel. FluidScan testing is a quick, effective method for measuring key properties from incoming feedstock inspection, during biodiesel production and through to the final product.
With a wide range of features, FluidScan has the ability to analyze the chemical properties of feedstock and biodiesel, as well as the biodiesel content in diesel fuel blends. Test results demonstrate that the FluidScan can accurately measure biodiesel content over the full range of mixes from 0-100% (B0-B100).
The use of ethanol as a gasoline additive has increased dramatically over the past few years and will likely continue to increase. For fuel blenders, this means an added challenge to avoid an incorrect blend that could lead to regulatory fines, loss of customer confidence and damage to equipment. A quick on-site analysis with a portable mid-infrared based analyzer, such as the InfraCal 2 Ethanol Blend Analyzer shown in the photo, can help fuel blenders quickly flag out-of-spec product and ensure the final blend meets specifications.
Biodiesel is a renewable diesel fuel that is also known as FAME (fatty-acid methyl ester) in the European Community. It is made from animal fats, vegetable oils or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel has the advantage that it works just as well as normal diesel fuel, but the combustion process expels lower concentrations of toxic emissions.
In most applications, biodiesel is used as a fuel additive at 1:4 proportions (20%) with petroleum diesel. Spectro Scientific has analytical instruments that can be applied as quality control methods to verify that delivered biodiesel blend ratio, glycerin content and contaminants are as specified.