What is Biodiesel Blending?
When an alternative fuel such as biodiesel is blended with petroleum diesel, it produces a fuel that is compatible with diesel engines. Blending low levels of biodiesel with conventional diesel fuel is an important option for displacing imported petroleum consumption and reducing harmful emissions. Low blends of biodiesel can be defined as blends containing 5% and below. Even low blends of biodiesel provide a greater lubricity than standard diesel fuel alone. These blends usually consist of 2% biodiesel mixed with 98% diesel (B2). Any blend of up to 5% biodiesel is considered an additive volume (B5 is 5% biodiesel/95% diesel)
Several of the large commercial petroleum companies have geared their marketing efforts around the positive benefits of biodiesel as a component within their premium diesel products. These products claim that biodiesel blended with standard petroleum diesel will provide the fuel with greater lubricity, making up about half of the total fuel volume. These types of marketing messages have confused the biodiesel consumer regarding actual percentages of biodiesel contained in the finished blend. Dosing rates for these types of additives are typically at a maximum of .25%. If biodiesel makes up about half of the premium diesel blends, a customer could reasonably expect the finished biodiesel blend to contain about .10% - .15% biodiesel (about one-tenth of one percent)
B5 meets the ASTM specification for diesel fuel, D 975. This applies to blends of up to B20 as well. As the blend concentrations increase there is a higher chance for distortion of some of the test method results which were designed for diesel fuel rather than biodiesel. For this reason, all biodiesel must meet ASTM standards (D6751), prior to blending with diesel fuel at any level.
Why Biodiesel Blending?
Some of the obvious benefits to biodiesel blending are the increased fuel lubricity and reduction in emissions. This is the primary reason for the increased popularity with B2 and B5 blended fuels. Both of these renewable fuel blends can be introduced into the diesel fuel market seamlessly without any noticeable impact on users or fuel properties. In fact, using 100 gallons of B5 fuel provides the same air quality and benefits as using 25 gallons of B20 or 5 gallons of B100. States like Minnesota have actually adopted statewide requirements for B2 use in 2005. Other states have followed suit with similar programs contingent on the state’s biodiesel production reaching a certain level.
B20 and B100 Alternative Fuels
Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel at any percentage however only B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum) and higher qualify for fuel credits.
B20
B20 is the most commonly used biodiesel blend in the United States providing substantial benefits while avoiding some of the cold weather performance issues often associated with B100. B20 is most often used in diesel equipment and generally does not require engine modifications.
B100
B100 and other high level biodiesel blends can be used in some engines built since 1994 with modifications to hoses and gaskets. B100 is not used as often as biodiesel blends but is still a viable alternative for professional fleets with maintenance departments prepared to deal with this fuel.
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