ASTM proposes standard to characterize quality of biodiesel blends

In Pennsylvania, proposed ASTM International standard will help characterize the quality of diesel fuels and biodiesel blends. The proposed standard (WK51775) is being developed by the committee on petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants (D02). The proposed standard will be used to separate and determine the content of aromatics, nonaromatics, and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in middle distillates, including biodiesel blends with up to 20 percent by volume of FAME. The proposed method could be used by refinery plants, diesel fuel producers, and analytical laboratories.