Expert discussion on mineral oil and biodiesel management
AGQM is presenting the results of its study
On the occasion of the 5th expert discussion, experts from the mineral oil industry and the Association Quality management Biodiesel (AGQM) discussed current issues on the quality development and assessment of biodiesel as well as on the level of pan-European norms with the aim of creating a norm for B10 and B30. AGQM presented different projects, among them the results of a jointly initiated project dealing with the issue of the filterability of biodiesel.
In several talks, studies evaluating specific quality parameters were presented, each providing evidence of the good biodiesel quality of AGQM members. For instance, it could be shown that the contents of alkaline and alkaline earth metals, phosphor and sulphur were significantly below the levels set out in the biodiesel norm EN 14214. Furthermore, the contents of sterol glycosides (SG) and acylated sterol glycosides (ASG) in biodiesel, which are suspected of causing filter blockages, were very low. A correlation between the ASG and SG contents and filterability could not be shown as a result of these studies.
A topic increasingly discussed on an international level, the phenomenon of microbial growth can be controlled using preventive measures ("good housekeeping"). Nonetheless, according to the comments by the mineral oil industry on the present results, the biodiesel industry must reduce the water content in biodiesel if this is possible in terms of processes. Against this background, the participants discussed the current level of norms for biodiesel as well as the implementation of the AGQM recommendation "FAME for blends", which contains voluntary specifications exceeding the biodiesel norm EN 14214.
Moreover, AGQM is involved in several cooperative projects aiming at creating an additional sales market by making up the use of biodiesel as a blending component in heating oil. Accessible focal points of the project-related cooperation with the mineral oil industry, the additive compound manufacturers and research institutes involved were presented.
From the point of view of AGQM, this year's expert discussion again confirmed the mutual interest of being as forward-looking as possible in questions of using biodiesel as a blending component in mineral oil products, and if necessary to unearth solutions in joint projects or even to develop new sales potential. This trusting cooperation forms the basis of a sustainable market establishment of biodiesel.
Editorial contact:
Dieter BockeyAGQM e. V. Claire-Waldoff-Straße 7 10117 Berlin Tel.: 0 30/31 90 4-215 Email: q.obpxrl@ntdz-ovbqvrfry.qr
