Advanced Alternative and Renewable Diesel Fuels: Detailed Characterization of Physical and Chemical Properties

(The Coordinating Research Council, Inc) This report documents and compares the results of detailed analyses of the physical and chemical properties of ten advanced alternative and renewable diesel fuels and four commercial ultra low sulfur diesels (ULSDs). A key objective of this study conducted by the AVFL-19Working Group of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) Advanced Vehicle/Fuel/Lubricants Committee was to identify the similarities and differences of these emerging advanced alternative and renewable fuels compared to conventional petroleum derived ULSDs.

The four advanced alternative fuels consisted of samples derived from gas-to-liquids (GTL), shale oils, and oilsands. The six renewable fuels were derived from biomass sources including plant, animal, and algal lipids and cellulosic materials.

For all of these renewable fuels, none of the oxygen atoms inherent in the starting feedstock were detected, suggesting
that they have been hydroprocessed. The four ULSDs were produced at different refineries in the US.

The objective of the study was to show the types of chemistry and properties of representative samples of advanced alternative and renewable fuels that have made it or might make it into the fuels market, but not to characterize samples from every manufacturer nor to judge the advantages or disadvantages of one manufacturer or process versus another. The samples were obtained from manufacturers who produced them on a relatively large scale (from pilot to commercial scale) and were willing to allow us to analyze the samples and publish the results on a “blinded” basis (i.e., not identify which sample came from which manufacturer). Samples of fuels that have only been produced in miniscule quantities on a research scale were not included in the study.

This study used similar analytical techniques and built on the characterization work previously conducted by the Fuels for Advanced Combustion Engines (FACE)Working Group on the original set of FACE Diesel Fuels(CRC report FACE-1 published in July, 2010) and the AVFL-19 Working Group on the reformulated FACE Diesel Fuels (CRC report AVFL-19-1 published in January 2013). AVFL-19 Working Group members composed of representatives from the energy companies, US national labs, and a Canadian national lab performed the analyses that are included in this report. A suite of ASTM tests were run to measure: cetane number [measured by engine and ignition quality tester (IQT) methods];
cetane index; distillation properties; aromatics, saturates, and olefins content; elemental C and H contents; C14 content; S and N contents; bromine number; specific gravity; net heat of combustion; kinematic viscosity; cloud point; pour point; flash point; and lubricity. READ MORE Download Study