Mandate
Biodiesel quality has improved tremendously over the past few years, though it remains a concern for engine and
automobile manufacturers. The NBB established its BQ-9000 program in 2001 to improve fuel quality assurance
and noted in 2011 that biodiesel fuel from BQ-9000 companies made up 81% of biodiesel produced in the U.S.9
ASTM continues to refine its biodiesel specifications and released an update to D 6751 in December 2012. The
specification was updated with an optional biodiesel grade, which had been under discussion and review. The
new optional grade, called No. 1-B, has a monoglyceride limit and a lower cold soak filterability time. The
monoglyceride limit is more stringent than the limit in the current biodiesel standard under Europe’s CEN (EN
14214:2008). Producers may find it difficult to produce a biodiesel meeting the No. 1-B grade using feedstocks
like palm oil, coconut oil and animal fat. The grade No. 1-B is described as a special purpose biodiesel blendstock
intended for use in middle distillate fuel applications that can be sensitive to the presence of partially reacted
glycerides, including those applications requiring good low-temperature operability.
Moreover, according to NBB, as of December 2012 every state except Alaska had adopted the ASTM D 6751
specification as part of its fuel quality regulations.