Fast, Easy Detection of Biodiesel in Diesel Fuel to 0.05% featured in New Application Note

A new application note from Wilks Enterprise (USA) features its InfraSpec VFA-IR Spectrometer, with a flow-through sample system, for the accurate measurement of biodiesel in diesel fuel down to 0.05% in less than one minute. This is particularly important for nuclear power plants and pipeline operators as they need to ensure that little or no biodiesel is in their system. #

The ASTM Method D 975 currently allows up to 5% biodiesel in diesel without the requirement for biodiesel content labeling. For nuclear power plants, fuel can be stored for as long as 10 years to power their standby diesel generators in case of an electrical power shut down. Emergency Diesel Generators (EDG) supply electrical power to safely shutdown the nuclear reactor in the event of a loss of normal off-site power and supply power to critical items such as cooling pumps for decay heat removal. Biodiesel is a natural food source for microbial growth and while biocides should prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi and mold, nuclear power plants cannot risk that microbial growth could clog filters and shut down the EDG. In cold weather areas, there is also concern that the cold flow properties of biodiesel blended fuel may cause it to gel in cold temperatures and again clog filters. Therefore, it has become necessary for many standby generator operators to determine whether their fuel delivery contains biodiesel.

Pipeline operators also need to know that the product being delivered to their customer is as specified. If a delivery of diesel fuel to be shipped through a pipeline contains unlabeled biodiesel or the pipeline previously carried a diesel/biodiesel blend, it is important to ensure that there is no residual biodiesel present in the delivery to a customer that requires pure diesel fuel, such as a nuclear power plant.

The fast, easy analysis capability of the InfraSpec VFA-IR Spectrometer is ideal for on-site biodiesel measurements in less than one minute by non-technically trained personnel. It eliminates the need to wait for measurement results from an off-site laboratory. This spectral range analyzer contains a linear variable filter with a 128 pixel detector array covering a wavelength range of 5.4-10.8 μm (1850-925 cm-1) and an integrated flow-through sample cell. The InfraSpec Spectrometer is compact, portable and has a simplified PC interface that gives the user the capability to measure on-site at a nuclear power plant, or at a manufacturing facility as well as in the laboratory – anywhere fast, easy accurate biodiesel in diesel fuel measurements are required and at a price significantly less than other analytical instruments.