Biodiesel is a clean-burning, renewable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled cooking oil and greases. The manufacturing process for biodiesel combines oils and fats with methanol and a catalyst to produce fatty acid methyl esters, which is commonly referred to as biodiesel. Vegetable oils such as rapeseed, canola, soybean and palm oil are the most common raw material for commercial-scale biodiesel production.
Biodiesel is an environmentally-friendly, efficient alternative to
conventional petroleum-based diesel and can be used in a variety of ways. Biodiesel has physical and chemical properties similar to
conventional petroleum-based diesel. The current specification for biodiesel fuel is ASTM D6751. ASTM is a standards group
comprised of engine and fuel injection equipment manufacturers, fuel producers, and fuel users whose standards are recognized in the U.S. by governmental entities, including state agencies responsible for
ensuring fuel quality. So called "biofuels" that do not meet the ASTM
standard are not legally biodiesel fuels and should not be used in diesel engines.
Biodiesel is typically used as an additive to conventional diesel fuel, ranging in content from 2% to 50% or more. Consequently, biodiesel fuel is often referred to by the percentage of biodiesel in the fuel. For example, B20 is a blended fuel that contains 20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel. B20 is a common blend because it provides a good balance between costs, performance, and environmental benefits.
Biodiesel is a legally registered fuel and fuel additive with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Biodiesel is also a recognized alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) as amended in 1996 and 1998, and thus qualifies under the alternative fuel vehicle purchase provisions of EPAct (provided a B20 or higher blend is used).
