Home > Renewables and Alternate Fuels > Physical Characteristics of Biodiesel vs. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)

Physical Characteristics of Biodiesel vs. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)                                        
Table 1.H3    xls   pdf   format      Renewable Energy Trends

Table 1.H3 Physical Characteristics of Biodiesel vs. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)
  Biodiesel (soybean) Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel
Heat Content (Btu/gallon) 118,952 139,000
Flash Point (oC) 93 >52
Pour Point (oC) 0 -27
Cloud Point (oC) 2 -23
Sulfur (ppm) 0-2 <15
Sources: Heat contents: (Biodiesel) Energy Information Administration, Monthly Annual Energy Review (November 2007),. Table A3. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/pdf/pages/sec12_3.pdf.  (Diesel) Energy Information Administration.   http://www.eia.doe.gov/basics/conversion_basics.html.  Flash point (Diesel) McCormick, Bob.  National Renewable Energy Lab. Renewable Diesel  Fuels: Status of Technology and R&D Needs.  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/deer_2002/session4/2002_deer_mccormick.pdf August 2003.  Flash Point (Biodiesel) Cloud Point (Diesel and Biodiesel) and Pour Point (Diesel and Biodiesel): National Biodiesel Board, Biodiesel Cold Weather Blending Study. http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/20050728_gen-354.pdf.  Sulfur (Biodiesel): ASTM  Specification 6751-07b. http://biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/BDSpec.PDF.  (Diesel) Environmental Protection Agency, Program Update: introduction of Cleaner-burning Diesel Fuel Enables Advanced Pollution Control for Cars, Trucks and Buses EPA420-F-06-064, October 2006 http://www.epa.gov/otaq/highway-diesel/regs/420f06064.htm