ASTM Biodiesel Specifications

These tables show selected ASTM requirements for B100 and B6 to B20. To learn more about biodiesel, go to the Fuel Basics or Blends pages. The National Biodiesel Accreditation Program takes fuel quality a step further with the BQ9000 program combining ASTM standards and a quality systems program, which includes biodiesel production through end-use.

B100

This table shows selected requirements for B100, 100% biodiesel, as listed in ASTM D6751. The full standard can be purchased from ASTM International.

Requirements for Biodiesel (B100) Blend Stock ASTM D6751

Property	Test Method	Limits	Units
Calcium and magnesium combined	EN14538	5 max	ppm
Flash point	D93	93.0 min	°C
Water and sediment	D2709	0.050 max	vol %
Kinematic viscosity, 40°C	D445	1.9-6.0	mm2/s
Sulfated ash	D874	0.020 max	% mass
Sulfur	D5453	0.0015 max (S15) 0.05 max (S500)	% mass
Copper strip corrosion	D130	0.020 max	-
Cetane number	D613	47 min	-
Cloud point	D2500	Report to customer	°C
Carbon residuea	D4530	0.050 max	% mass
Acid number	D664	0.50 max	mg KOH/g
Free glycerin	D6584	0.020	% mass
Total glycerin	D6584	0.240	% mass
Phosphorus content	D4951	0.001 max	% mass
Distillation temperature, 90% recovered (T90)b	D1160	360 max	°C
Oxidation stability	EN14112	3 min	hours
Cold Soak filterability	Annex A1	360 maxc	seconds
Alcohol control - One of the following must be met:
(1) Methanol content	EN14110	0.2 max	vol %
(2) Flash point	D93	130 min	°C

 ^a Carbon residue shall be run on the 100% sample.
 ^b Atmospheric equivalent temperature.
 ^c B100 intended for blending into diesel fuel that is expected to give satisfactory vehicle performance at fuel temperatures at or below 10°F (-12°C) shall comply with a cold soak filterability limit of 200 s maximum.

B6 to B20

This table shows requirements for 6% biodiesel (B6) to 20% biodiesel (B20) as listed in ASTM D7467. The full standard can be purchased from ASTM International.

Requirements for Biodiesel B6-B20 ASTM D7467

Property	Test Method	Limits	Units
Acid number	D664	0.3 max	mg KOH/g
Viscosity at 40°C	D445	1.9-4.1a	mm2/s
Flash point	D93	52b	°C
Cloud point	D2500	Report to customer	°C
Distillation temperature, 90% evaporated	D86	343	°C
Ramsbottom carbon residue on 10% bottoms	D524	0.35 max	% mass
Sulfur	D5453	0.0015 max (S15) 0.05 max (S500)	% mass
Cetane number	D613	40 minc	-
Ash content	D482	0.01	% mass
Water and sediment	D2709	0.050 max	% mass
Copper corrosion 3 h at 50°C	D130	No. 3	-
Biodiesel content	DXXXXd	6-20	% (V/V)
Oxidation stability	EN14112	6 min	Hours
Lubricity at 60°C	D6079	520 maxd	micron
One of the following must be met:
(1) Cetane index	D976-80	40 min	-
(2) Aromaticity	D1319-88	35 max	-

 ^a If Grade No. 1-D or blends of Grade No. 1-D and Grade No. 2-D diesel fuel are used, the minimum viscosity shall be 1.3 mm²/s.
 ^b If Grade No. 1-D or blends of Grade No. 1-D and Grade No. 2-D diesel fuel are used, or a cloud point of less than -12°C) is specified, the minimum flash point shall be 38°C.
 ^c Low ambient temperatures as well as engine operation at high altitudes may require the use of fuels with higher cetane ratings. If the diesel fuel is qualified under Table 1 of D975 for cetane, it is not necessary to measure the cetane number of the blend. This is because the cetane number of the individual blend components will be at least 40, so the resulting blend will also be at least 40 cetane number.
 ^d Where specified, the blend level shall be +/- 2% volume unless a different tolerance is agreed to by the purchaser and the supplier.
 ^e If the diesel fuel is qualified under Table 1 of D975 for lubricity, it is not necessary to measure the lubricity of the blend. This is because the lubricity of the individual blend components will be at least 520 microns, so the resulting blend will also be at least 520 microns.