AGQM and FAM complete 2010 joint round-robin for biodiesel and rapeseed fuel

Berlin, 20 September 2010. Round-robin tests to verify the test methods and correct work of professional laboratories have a long and successful history with Fachausschuss Mineralöl- und Brennstoffnormung (FAM) of the DIN - the German standardization organization for fuels and lubricants. The increasing use of biofuels and organic mixing components has shown an increasing need for round-robins for these classes of products. Therefore, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. (AGQM), together with FAM, is also conducting round robins to study biodiesel as an element of the quality assurance system. Based on these activities, cooperation between FAM and AGQM has become closer in the last few years.

This year’s round robin, for which international participation had been invited, had been joined by 61 laboratories of biodiesel producers and commercial test institutions, nine of them were from outside Germany. Not only participation in the round-robin tests is becoming stronger, the requirements on the results and their analysis are also more stricter than before. The results of the 2010 round-robin test were analyzed on the basis of internationally accredited and standardized statistical methods for the mineral oil sector, which are described in detail in DIN EN ISO 4249.

Churned by the requirements of the biofuel quota act and the regulations based on it, the 2010 round robin focused on fatty acid methyl ester (corresponding to DIN EN 14214) and rapeseed fuel (corresponding to DIN V 51605). The German Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the main customs offices in Germany rated this round-robin test as round robin within the meaning of the applicable statutory regulations whose result – together with other quality assuring activities - is accepted as proof of qualification on which own certificates certifying compliance with the obligations under the biofuel quota act and the energy tax act, resp., can be issued.

The successful participation of service laboratories in this round robin prequalifies these laboratories for winning analytics orders from state authorities monitoring compliance with the 10th Bundes-Immissionsschutzverordnung (German emission control ordinance - BImSchV). The ordinance controls the composition and grades of fuels.

Participation in the round-robin test is obligatory for AGQM members and participants in the international certification system Biodiesel Production AGQM Certified (BPAC) of AGQM. Engine and vehicle makers (e.g. DEUTZ AG) increasingly require batch-related data for product quality to be on guard against unjustified complaints.

The joint round-robin test by FAM and AGQM is a contribution to improving the safety of using biodiesel and rapeseed fuel.The next round robin for biodiesel and rapeseed fuel early in 2011 will again be an international event. Interested institutions and laboratories can register with AGQM (n.onrhzre@ntdz-ovbqvrfry.qr) now.