Biodiesel is a fuel, comparable to petrodiesel, that is produced, not from a fossil fuel, but from a renewable fuel such as rapeseed, soy, jatropha or other virgin biomass, UCO (used-cooking oil), MSW (municipal solid waste), or from any viable fuel stock. Pure biodiesel (known as B100) consists of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), from the isomers of glycerides C14 up to C24.
Depending on the feedstock the distribution tends to be around C16 (Palmitic), Oleic (C18:1), Linoleic (C18:2), and others. The FAME content can be determined by Gas Chromatography using the European Norm 14103 methodology or similar ASTM method. Other methods for determining specifications are detailed in EN 14214 in each case with appropriate reference.
The European Standard was approved by CEN (European Committee for Standardization) on 14 February2003[1]. The date, when the standard came to effect, varies depending on the country (eg. Finland 8 March 2004).
It is broadly based on DIN 51606. The ASTM and EN both utilise very similar methods for the GC based analyses, in particular the methanol content EN method is deemed acceptable to use by the ASTM.
Blends are designated as "B" followed by a number. B99 is 99% pure biodiesel and 1% petrodiesel. B20 is 20% renewable biodiesel and 80% fossil fuel. The toxicity of the fuel goes up as the proportion of biodiesel goes down.
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