MEETING THE BIOFUEL COMPLIANCE CHALLENGE

Jeff Conroy from Authentix discusses the challenges and possible solutions for the quality assurance and source integrity of renewable biofuels Increased reliance on biofuels to meet mandated greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions is increasing demand.  Aside from the impact increased biofuel levels have on the ease of storage of the blends, the efficient running of a combustion engine, and the lower energy density of the blends, there is serious concern regarding sourcing increasing volumes of biocomponents to meet demand. The production of biofuels from non-sustainable sources or energy intensive processes can lead to reduced benefit or even an overall increase in emissions, so the pedigree of otherwise chemically identical biofuels becomes very important to ensure compliance with the overall goal of greenhouse gas reduction. BIOFUELS – FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION Historically, biofuels have been derived from gasoline/ethanol and diesel/fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) blends. Fuel manufacturers have been able to manage the sourcing, blending and supply of these products through their regular networks. ASTM and similar test methods for the monitoring of fuels for compliance with...