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Pacific BioFuels provides complete on-site sampling and ASTM analysis of Biofuels; we enable you to see exactly what's happening
inside your biofuels. The information we discover is vital to a healthy fuel system. Pacific BioFuels can take on-site fuel
samples from your storage tank and provide a complete ASTM analytical report on the condition of fuel quality, water content,
sediment content or any other ASTM specification required.
Why do I need to sample my fuel? We have found in our 50 years in the petroleum business that most fuel tanks are not properly
maintained which can cause degradation of fuel quality from failed routine maintenance. You may be able to operate a dirty
un-maintained fuel system on traditional fuels, since traditional fuels are lighter than water and the sediment stays on the
bottom while the fuel will float on top of the water. However, when converting to biodiesel or ethanol blends such as E10 or
E85 these contaminants can be problematic and costly in operability as well as down time.
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can be produced from a variety of renewable sources, including soybean oil, canola oil,
sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, and animal fats. Biodiesel is an oxygenated fuel and by nature will absorb or entrain water
and carry any sediment into the biodiesel fuel. This can lead to poor fuel quality and manifest itself in the form of excessive
filter plugging. Since it does not take much water for this to occur (300ppm and higher), Pacific BioFuels recommends that bulk
fuel tanks be inspected, fuel sampling and fuel analysis be ran by an ASTM fuels lab prior to converting to biodiesel blends
higher than B5 (5% biodiesel). Many have converted without these procedures followed with little or no issues but to ensure
a smooth and trouble free transition we believe these recommendations are essential to a quality fuel system. Biodiesel
(B100) or biodiesel blends that contain recovered greases and fats may see an increase in microbial contamination and oxidation
stability issues.
Ethanol is an oxygenate, meaning it adds oxygen to fuel thus making it burn cleaner. Enriching gasoline with ethanol helps to
reduce greenhouse gases and harmful tailpipe emissions. Ethanol is biodegradable and does not pollute groundwater. E10 is the
term for motor fuel containing 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline and E85 is the term for motor fuel containing 85% ethanol
and 15% unleaded gasoline. With Ethanol many of the same concerns that we have addressed with biodiesel can occur in blends
of ethanol. We recommend that the same inspection, fuel sampling and analysis be ran before converting to ethanol blends higher than E10.
Good housekeeping practices remain the key to protecting your investment. Dirt, debris, and water can gather in fill lines, fill areas, and storage tanks. Water is the number one contaminant
and the primary cause for microbial problems and other issues. Pacific BioFuels offers microbial analysis among other water and sediment tests and sampling tools.
Listed below are Pacific BioFuels recommended tests for conversion to biofuels.
Biodiesel
BS&W (ASTM D2709), Water-Suspended by KF (ASTM D6304) and Flash Point (ASTM D93)
Ethanol Blends
BS&W (ASTM D2709), Water-Suspended by KF (ASTM D6304)
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