The German biodiesel quality management association (AGQM) and the mineral oil and fuels standards committee (FAM) have opened registration for their annual round robin tests for biodiesel and rapeseed oil. After a decade of such tests, however, the groups have modified and extended the “rapeseed oil fuel” round robin test to include used cooking oil.

“To improve the greenhouse has balance and to support [a] circular economy, increasing amounts of wastes and residues (e.g. used cooking oils) are used for biodiesel production,” AGQM stated. “Already since 2015 one sample of the FAME round robin test (methods from EN 14214) includes biodiesel from used cooking oils.”

AGQM Quality Manager Maren Dietrich said, “We called it extended because we have a broader feedstock this year.” The former round robin test for rapeseed fuel oil used to contain two pure rapeseed oil samples.

“In Germany, we have a standard, DIN 51605, for rapeseed fuel oil,” Dietrich told Biodiesel Magazine. “Some time ago, vegetable oil was used directly as fuel.”

The new version of the round robin test has been renamed “vegetable and used cooking oils” and contains samples of both rapeseed and used cooking oil.

“This was requested by the participants of last year’s round robin test because they wanted to have proof for their feedstock testing,” Dietrich said.

Registration is open until April 13 at http://rrt.agqm-biodiesel.com. More information about the round robin test can be found on AGQM’s homepage or requested by email.

According to AGQM, round robin tests are an important instrument for laboratories to control and improve their own measuring competence and to identify handling, device or systematic errors. Participation in this round robin test can be used for laboratory accreditation.