WHAT IS BIODIESEL?
I confess I have been tossing around the term "biodiesel" somewhat indescriminately, or rather, as a general term to describe "bio-source" fuels of general characteristic like those of traditionally petroleum derived diesel, kerosene or similar fuels. Dr. Hansen of the German firm CHOREN Industries GmbH, pointed out the difference, in the US at least, was originally defined by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This is the definition used by the IRS, according to Dr. Hansen. That's very often the one that counts, especially since so many people are so enthused about the various credits and subsidies available to encourage renewable energy production. I will try to be more meticulous in my differentiation in the future, but frankly, it's all biodiesel to me.
However, while Dr. Hansen was correct, and needs to be so for the sake of those who might be relying on his company's processes, what they make is NOT considered "biodiesel" at all. It falls into a separate category, which, fortunately for me and for Dr. Hansen and company is also considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to be a form of "renewable diesel", which they call, specifically, "non-ester renewable diesel". I will quote from the web site, IPQC Global Energy Center below.
In fact, EPA recognized that the statutory definition of biodiesel, which is a diesel fuel substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable sources, differs from the ASTM D 6751 definition of biodiesel, which includes only esters. Thus, EPA has proposed to divide the statutory definition into two parts: ester biodiesel and non-ester renewable diesel. EPA has defined these two renewable fuels as follows:
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* Biodiesel: 1) meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the EPA; 2) is a mono-alkyl ester; 3) meets ASTM specification D-6751-02a; 4) is intended for use in engines that are designed to run on conventional, petroleum-derived diesel fuel, and 5) is derived from nonpetroleum renewable resources including, but not limited to, animal wastes, including poultry fats and poultry wastes, and other waste materials, or municipal solid waste and sludges and oils derived from wastewater and the treatment of wastewater.
* Non-Ester Renewable Diesel: The term "non-ester renewable diesel" means a motor vehicle fuel which 1) meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by EPA; 2) is not a mono-alkyl ester; 3) is intended for use in engines that are designed to run on conventional, petroleum-derived diesel fuel; and 4) is derived from nonpetroleum renewable resources including, but not limited to, animal wastes, including poultry fats and poultry wastes, and other waste materials, or municipal solid waste and sludges and oils derived from wastewater and the treatment of wastewater.
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