Why is Sampling Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Important?
Renewable hydrocarbon biofuels are fuels produced from biomass sources, including vegetable oils, animal fats, and specialized crops. They are chemically identical to standard petroleum-based products and can be used in existing engines and infrastructure. However, like petroleum-based products, biofuels require strict testing.
Many fuel production plants have converted or are planning to convert traditional refining processes to biodiesel or biofuel production processes to reduce their footprint. However, this conversion may have many problems, including ensuring that sampling processes are used to sample these fuels properly and safely.
Facing Increased Legislation and Regulation
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program is a national policy that requires a particular volume of renewable fuel to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum-based transportation fuel, heating oil, or jet fuel. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) significantly increased the size of the RFS program by boosting long-term production goals to 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel per year.
The RFS program includes four categories of renewable fuel:
- Advanced biofuels are produced from types of renewable biomass, such as sugarcane, biobutanol, and naphtha.
- Biomass-based diesel is produced from biomass such as soybean oil, canola oil, waste oil, and animal fats.
- Cellulosic biofuel- produced from cellulose or hemicellulose of corn stover, wood chips, Miscanthus ornamental grasses, or biogas.
- Conventional renewable biofuel- including ethanol from corn starch or other renewable fuels.
During production, renewable fuels undergo many processes like traditional fuels, making it essential to sample them for quality, safety, and integrity, just as you would in a conventional refinery.
Sampling can help production plants meet strict environmental standards, maximize product quality, ensure product integrity, and maintain the safety of personnel and equipment.
The first step in ensuring proper sampling is to sample at suitable locations within the biofuel production process. These can include:
- Renewable feedstock sources- Sample raw materials before production to ensure appropriate ingredients enter the process.
- Intermediate hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) products- Sample products to ensure sufficient removal of oxygen.
- Hydrogen Sulfide- Sample for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to ensure elimination of corrosive contaminants.
- Sour water—Sample to ensure sufficient removal of H2S and ammonia to condition the water for discharge or reuse in the plant.
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Written by Sentry Equipment
With proven sampling expertise since 1924, Sentry products and services provide business operations the critical insights to optimize process control and product quality. We deliver true representative sampling and analysis techniques to customers around the globe, empowering them to accurately monitor and measure processes for improved production efficiency, output and safety. Standing behind our commitments, we are determined to tackle any application, anywhere.
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