ASTM D6751

ASTM D6751
Title	ASTM D6751
Status	Active
Organization	American Society for Testing and Materials
First published	1999
Domain	Fuel standards
Related	EN 14214, ASTM D975, ASTM D7467, International Organization for Standardization

ASTM D6751

ASTM D6751 is a technical specification issued by American Society for Testing and Materials that defines requirements for biodiesel fuel blendstock used in diesel engines. The specification interfaces with standards and regulatory programs administered by United States Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, European Commission, and industry bodies such as Society of Automotive Engineers and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It serves as a cornerstone for fuel suppliers, engine manufacturers, and transportation agencies involved with biodiesel production, distribution, and use.

Overview

ASTM D6751 provides compositional and property criteria for mono-alkyl esters derived from vegetable oils and animal fats intended for blending with petroleum diesel. The standard has influenced adoption decisions by entities including United States Department of Energy, American Petroleum Institute, International Electrotechnical Commission, and regional authorities such as European Parliament committees. Major stakeholders in implementation include producers in regions represented by Renewable Energy Directive proponents, testing laboratories accredited by American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, and fleet operators governed by procurement rules from General Services Administration.

Scope and Purpose

The scope covers neat biodiesel (B100) used as blendstock with petroleum diesel or heating oil, establishing limits for properties critical to combustion systems certified by manufacturers like Cummins, Caterpillar, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. The purpose is to reduce risk of engine damage, ensure interchangeability across supply chains involving entities such as Valero Energy Corporation and BP plc, and to harmonize fuel quality for programs managed by Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators such as California Air Resources Board.

Test Methods and Requirements

D6751 references analytical methods from committees and laboratories associated with American Society for Testing and Materials technical committees and uses procedures employed by organizations like ASTM Committee D02 and ISO/TC 28. Key required properties include limits for kinematic viscosity, acid number, sulfur content, flash point, glycerin (free and total), oxidative stability, and cold-flow properties; laboratories often apply methods developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology and validated through round-robin studies coordinated with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Conformance testing may involve instrumentation and techniques standardized by Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Association of Analytical Communities, and equipment manufacturers such as Agilent Technologies.

Production and Quality Control

Producers of feedstocks—farmers and cooperatives associated with United States Department of Agriculture programs, processors like Renewable Energy Group, and integrated refiners such as ExxonMobil affiliates—use transesterification, catalysis, and drying operations to meet D6751 specifications. Quality control integrates sampling and laboratory verification in accordance with accreditation from American Association for Laboratory Accreditation and certification schemes influenced by International Organization for Standardization management systems. Supply chain actors including distributors, fuel terminals operated by Kinder Morgan, and fleet managers such as United Parcel Service implement documentation and testing protocols that tie into procurement policies from Department of Defense.

Environmental and Performance Impacts

Specifications in D6751 affect emissions profiles evaluated by agencies and research centers like Environmental Protection Agency, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Union of Concerned Scientists, and academic groups at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. Biodiesel meeting the standard can influence particulate matter and greenhouse gas outcomes under programs like Renewable Fuel Standard and policies enacted by bodies such as European Commission. Performance attributes also interact with cold-weather operations studied by laboratories collaborating with Argonne National Laboratory and vehicle testing conducted by manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen AG.

Adoption and Regulatory Context

Adoption of D6751 has been referenced in procurement and regulatory frameworks administered by Environmental Protection Agency rulemakings, state statutes in jurisdictions such as California, incentive programs administered by Internal Revenue Service, and international trade arrangements influenced by World Trade Organization dispute panels. The specification complements regional standards like EN 14214 and intersects with fuel regulations enforced by agencies including Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality when biodiesel is distributed in U.S. markets.

Revisions and Updates

ASTM committee activities periodically revise test methods and limits through balloting processes involving stakeholders such as National Biodiesel Board, engine manufacturers, and laboratory representatives from organizations like American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Historical updates have addressed issues raised during incidents investigated by entities such as National Transportation Safety Board and research findings disseminated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with liaison to international standards work at International Organization for Standardization and harmonization efforts with European Committee for Standardization.

Category:Fuel standards