Biodiesel Quality Improves, But Concerns Remain
The Department of Energy this week released the results of its 2007 biodiesel quality survey that showed improvements in biodiesel quality, but said 10% of the biodiesel produced in the United States still fails to meet certain quality specifications.
The 10% failure rate to meet the standards, known as ASTM D6751, is something the trucking industry finds unacceptable, American Trucking Associations said. A prior biodiesel quality study conducted in 2006 showed a 59% failure rate, ATA said.
The study showed that larger biodiesel producers tended to produce a better quality fuel.
Large producers of more than 1 million gallons per year “demonstrated consistent compliance with the ASTM specifications, while small and medium producers had significant failure rates,” ATA said. Small facilities of less than 100,000 gallons of annual capacity met the standard just 28% of the time.
A technical paper on the study is available by clicking here via ATA’s Web site, truckline.com. (30-page PDF file.)
