SwRI: Biodiesel Fuel Technology, extensive capabilities for analyzing biodiesel and biodiesel blends

	Southwest Research Institute has extensive experience in preparing and analyzing conventional and alternative fuels.

With more than 55 years of research, development, and evaluation in fuels and lubricants, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has extensive experience in preparing and analyzing conventional and alternative fuels. The SwRI blend of field experience, engineering and chemical skills, and design and fabrication capabilities offers an interdisciplinary approach to fuel-related services.

Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel

Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that offers several advantages over conventional diesel fuel, including:

• Decreased smog-forming potential

• Reduced sulfur emissions

• Biodegradable and nontoxic characteristics

• Reduced dependence on foreign oil

Fuel Analysis and Evaluation Capabilities

In addition to evaluating conventional and other alternative fuels, SwRI has extensive capabilities for analyzing biodiesel and biodiesel blends, including:

	The Rancimat apparatus above is used to measure the oxidation stability of biodiesel fuel.  Below, SwRI uses a variety of state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate the quality of biodiesel fuel.

• Conformance evaluations

• Emission standards

• Nonstandard analyses

• Customized evaluations

SwRI has complete and up-to-date facilities and equipment to perform analytical requirements for biodiesel fuels according to ASTM D 6751, including:

• Flash point (closed cup)

• Water and sediment

• Kinematic viscosity, 40°C

• Sulfated ash

• Sulfur

• Copper strip corrosion

• Cetane number

• Cloud point

• Carbon residue

• Acid number

• Free glycerin

• Total glycerin

• Phosphorus content

• Distillation temperature

  	Using a microseparometer, experienced SwRI technicians determine the water separation characteristics of biodiesel fuels.

SwRI Alternative Fuels Center

SwRI is recognized for its preparation of custom blends. Using client-provided or specified fuels, our experienced scientists create custom blends and evaluate them in accordance to a variety of standards. The SwRI Alternative Fuels Center provides specially formulated fuels in quantities ranging from 5 to 5,000 gallons. The modern facility includes a laboratory, drum storage area, and a 5,000-gallon-capacity tank farm.

The blending of fuels is supported by sophisticated compositional analyses for physical properties. This comprehensive activity has functioned continuously since 1979 for programs sponsored by industry, trade associations, and government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Defense (DOD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Petroleum Products Research Department has more than 45,000 square feet of laboratory and office space and provides chemical and physical analyses, as well as most standard ASTM international, federal, and industrial evaluations.

For more information about how SwRI can help you analyze or evaluate conventional and alternative or biodiesel fuels or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Steven Westbrook at swestbrook@swri.org or (210) 522-3185.