Fast Response Distillation with New B100 Biodiesel (FAME) Application

PAC (USA) has taken the lead in advancing the development of ‘green’ fuels and biodiesel products with the new PMD 110. The PMD 110, from PAC’s ISL product family, is the state-of-art lab solution for fast response D86 distillation analysis, based on the novel micro-test method. It provides process control testing and also meets mobile and in-field applications requirements, especially for fuel adulteration and fast quality screening.

Now, PAC has added an exciting new feature to the PMD 110, the B100 Biodiesel (FAME) application, a significant expansion of the PMD 110’s capabilities while dramatically reducing operating costs.

Due to its high TCE (thermal coefficient of expansion) and thermal instability, i.e., decomposition at elevated temperatures, B100 biodiesel fuel distillation must be performed under vacuum conditions (ASTM D1160), requiring complicated vacuum processing and heavy operating/maintenance costs.

The new functionality of the PMD 110 enables customers to determine distillation characteristics of their FAME products under atmospheric pressure. The PMD 110 offers an excellent alternative to standard D1160 test methods with significant cost reduction both in terms of operation and maintenance. Additionally, running biodiesel distillation analysis is faster and easier than ever before. The user simply selects the “B100” sample type in the PMD 110 menu, adds only 5ml of sample material to the flask, pushes “start” button and receives accurate results 5 minutes afterwards, for “5 and 5” speed and convenience.

PMD 110 performs fuel quality screening at logistical points, fuel blending, and in mobile labs. The PMD110 utilizes innovative Micro-flasks which allow lower temperature, more efficient heating to be applied (minimizing the potential for thermal destruction) and a 5ml sample size so that thermal expansion is not an issue. Heating is more efficient due to the smaller heated area. There is no risk of sample material going through the condenser at liquid phase, instead of at vapor phase.

Additionally, the process is ‘foolproof’; when the user selects the “Biodiesel product” from the Menu, the display automatically shows a message which reminds the user to fill only 5 ml sample into the flask, preventing overfilling.
The major advantage for customers who run biodiesel distillation with PMD 110 is a major reduction in operating costs, since there is no need for specific pumps and utilities to maintain vacuum conditions. Safety is also enhanced; risks of flask-breaking and fire are greatly reduced, with flask life ranging from 300-1000+ for various weight products, versus breakage after an average of 10-15 tests in standard D86 apparatus.

With the PMD applicability to B5, B20 biodiesel blends (D7345, correlation to D86) and now B100 Biodiesel, PAC continues to show its strong commitment to developing quality testing (analysis) instrumentation to assist the rapid development of alternative green fuels, in compliance with ASTM D6751.The PMD 110 has not yet been approved as compliant with D6751, however this final approval is pending near-term.The PMD 110 can be equipped with a built-in fire extinguisher as an option.