July 31, 2014
BY Ron Kotrba
Biodico’s Vice President of Research and Development Trey Teall presented the results of a five-year research project in May at the 105th American Oil Chemists’ Society Annual Meeting & Expo in San Antonio, Texas. The project focused on the use of Fourier Transform Near-infrared Spectroscopy to provide real-time in situ analysis of the biodiesel production process as an alternative to conventional ASTM biodiesel methodology.
ASTM D6751 protocols require the use of techniques that are relatively time-consuming and provide data about the state of the biodiesel reaction kinetics after the fact. For example, the use of gas chromatography (GC) to determine mono, di and tri glycerides, and free glycerin will take a trained technician more than 45 minutes. It requires that a sample be drawn, reacted (silylated) and run through the GC, and the results indicate what the reaction state was, instead of what it is in real time. In contrast, Teall’s research has shown that the use of FT-NIRS can be conducted with sensors imbedded in various production process streams and provide highly accurate, near-instantaneous data about the state of the reaction. It can also detect low-level contaminants to ensure that finished biodiesel meets the requirements of ASTM D6751 for finished biodiesel.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Clean Fuels Alliance America on June 10 announced the launch of the newly redesigned BQ-9000 website, delivering a streamlined and user-friendly experience that better showcases the value of biodiesel quality assurance.
The U.S. EPA on Aug. 21 released data indicating nearly 2.04 billion RINs were generated under the RFS in August, up from 1.84 billion generated in August 2022. Total RIN generation for the first eight months of the year reached nearly 15.45 billion.
WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, on Sept. 19 at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, addressed the airline's ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the vital role SAF plays in the future of decarbonizing aviation.
Clean Fuels Alliance America, American Soybean Association, National Oilseed Processors Association the U.S. Canola Association are urging the Biden administration to adopt GREET for the purposes measuring GHG reductions for the SAF tax credit.
Montana Renewables LLC, a subsidiary of Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP, on Sept. 18 hosted an event to celebrate the first receipts of camelina oil into its biorefinery in Great Falls, Montana. The facility produces renewable diesel and SAF.