Standard Test Method for Analysis of Biodiesel Products by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

5.1 This test method is used to identify FAMEs and petroleum distillates found in biodiesel products. Derivatization is not necessary to identify FAMEs. 5.1.1 The identification of biodiesel in debris and liquid samples from a fire scene can provide data relevant to judgments regarding investigative leads and the origin and cause of a fire. 5.1.2 The identification of biodiesel in a sample of fuel from a dispensing container or fuel tank can contribute to the field investigator’s findings in a fuel product tampering investigation. 5.2 FAMEs can be identified in fire debris samples using headspace extraction techniques (Practices E1412, E1413, E2154, or E3189) and GC-MS. 5.2.1 Solvent extraction could be required to further identify and characterize the FAME content in biodiesel. 5.2.2 The presence of FAMEs and petroleum diesel is an indication of a biodiesel product, as FAMEs are not naturally occurring. 5.3 Biodiesel products can be identified in liquid samples by GC-MS after appropriate solvent dilution or extraction. 5.4 Biodiesel is available in different blends, where B100 is 100 % biodiesel (typically 100 % transesterified vegetable oils or recycled restaurant greases) and B2 is 2 % biodiesel and 98 % petroleum diesel, with variations in between. 5.5 This test method can be hampered by coincident extraction of interfering compounds present in the fire debris samples. 5.6 Depending on the extraction method used, this could be a destructive technique and whenever possible the entire sample should not be used for the procedure. The solvent extracted portions of the sample are not suitable for resampling.