An
application was made under the Engine Fuel
Specifications Regulations 2008 for an
approval of alternative test method for
ester content for biodiesel. The
application was for an amendment of the
existing test method for ester content (EN
14103).
The
need to allow an amendment of EN 14103 to
account for the presence of naturally
occurring C-17 methyl ester, which is used
as an internal standard, has been
acknowledged internationally and has for
example been provided for in
the Australian Biodiesel Standard Amendment 2009.
The alternative method applied for is in
line with the modification proposed in a
scientific paper by international
specialists in this area.
The Australian amendment is based on this
scientific paper as well.
The
particular alternative method that has been
approved is EN 14103 subject to the
following amendments (amendments in bold):
8. Preparation of the sample
8.1 Accurately weigh approximately
250 mg of sample in a 10 ml vial (4.1),
then add 5 ml of heptane (5.1) using a
pipette (4.3).
8.2 Accurately weigh
approximately 250 mg of sample in a 10
ml vial (4.1), then add 5 ml of methyl
heptadecanoate solution (5.3) using a
pipette (4.3).
10. Expression of results
10.1 Determination of ester content
The ester C content, expressed as a mass
fraction in percent, is calculated using
the following formula:
C = (ΣA) - (AEI
- (AE x m2
/ m1)) x CEI
x VEI x 100%
AEI
m2
where
ΣA is the total peak area from the
methyl ester in C14 to that
in C24:1;
AE is the peak
area corresponding to methyl
heptadecanoate in 8.1;
AEI is the peak area
corresponding to methyl heptadecanoate
in 8.2
CEI is the
concentration, in milligrams per
millilitre, of the methyl heptadecanoate
solution (5.3) being used;
VEI is the volume, in
millilitres, of the methyl
heptadecanoate solution (5.3) being
used;
m1
is the mass, in milligrams, of the
sample in 8.1;
m2 is the mass, in milligrams, of the
sample in 8.2.
10.2 Determination of linolenic acid
methyl ester
The linolenic acid methyl ester content
L, expressed as a mass fraction in
percent, is calculated using the
following formula:
L = AL
x 100%
(ΣA) - (AEI
- (AE x
m2 / m1))
where
ΣA is the total peak area from the
methyl ester in C14 to that
in C24:1;
AE is the peak
area corresponding to methyl
heptadecanoate in 8.1;
AEI is the peak area
corresponding to methyl heptadecanoate
in 8.2;
AL is the peak area
corresponding to linolenic acid methyl
ester;
m1
is the mass, in milligrams, of the
sample in 8.1;
m2
is the mass, in milligrams, of the
sample in 8.2.
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