Bio Diesel refers to a vegetable oil or an animal fat based diesel fuel consisting of long chain alkyl (methyl, ethyl or propyl) esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids (e.g. vegetable oil, soybean oil, animal fat tallow with an alcohol producing fatty acid esters.Biodiesel can be used in pure form (B100) or may be blended with petroleum diesel at any concentration in most injection pump diesel engines.
Bio Diesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines and is thus distinct from the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used alone, or blended with petro diesel in any proportions. Biodiesel blends can also be used as heating oil.
Numerous studies have shown that Bio Diesel is the preferred fuel over Diesel; some of the critical differences are listed below:
Parameter |
Specification |
Result |
A. Physical Data |
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Appearance |
Clear Light Yellow Color |
Complies |
Odour |
Slight Fatty Acid |
Conforms |
B. Quality Control Data |
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Density at 15 °C |
0.86 - 0.90 g/ |
0.875 |
Kinematic Viscosity @ 40 °C |
3.5 - 5.0 cst |
3.9 |
Flash Point |
Min. 101 °C |
106 °C |
Sulphur |
Max. 10 ppm |
Conforms |
Carbon Residue |
Max. 0.05% |
0.03% |
Sulphated Ash |
Max. 0.02% |
Conforms |
Ester Content |
Min. 96.5% |
96.59% |
Iodine Value |
Max. 120 |
116.8 |
Color Gardener |
Max. 6 |
5.2 |
Water Content |
Max. 500 ppm |
Conforms |
Cetane Number |
Min. 52 |
51 |
Free Fatty Acid |
Max. 4% |
3.58% |