Testing additives for a safe use - No-Harm Evaluation 2024
The Association Quality Management Biodiesel (AGQM) launching a new round of tests for oxidation stabilizers and flow improvers for biodiesel. Registration for the current no-harm test round is still possible until 12th January 2024.
A variety of different additives are used in fuels, from fossil to sustainable, with the aim of positively influencing their properties. When using additives, care must be taken to avoid negative interactions with the fuel and other additives. So-called no-harm tests have been developed to test the additives.
AGQM has been offering no-harm tests for testing biodiesel additives since 2008. Antioxidants and flow improvers (BDFI - biodiesel flow improver) that have successfully passed the respective no-harm test are published on the globally recognized no-harm lists, which are available free of charge.
"Antioxidants have always been used in biodiesel to effectively prevent oxidation processes and ensure the stability of the biodiesel over a longer period of time. In addition, flow improvers are also used in biodiesel to ensure low-temperature operability. Due to our demanding no-harm tests, those additives can be identified which successfully fulfil all no-harm criteria and can therefore be used safely in biodiesel", explains Katharina Friedrich, Quality Manager at AGQM Biodiesel.
The no-harm test for antioxidants for biodiesel as a diesel fuel component provides for the testing of minimum requirements (B100), interaction tests (B100), engine oil compatibility, filtration properties and an engine test with B10 fuel.
The antioxidants for biodiesel as a heating oil component are examined in the second no-harm test in a B20 fuel. The minimum requirements are extended, and the interaction test is tightened; at the same time, the test for engine oil compatibility and the engine test are omitted in the heating oil sector.
In the third no-harm test, flow improvers for biodiesel are subjected to a similar programme as the antioxidants, whereby emulsion, foaming and corrosion properties are additionally examined.
You can register to have your additive tested until 12.01.2024 at vasb@ntdz-ovbqvrfry.qr. On the AGQM website you will find the no-harm lists and further information on the individual no-harm tests.
