What is BQTS© ?
BQTS© is a service of AgriFuels LLC that tests biofuels from multiple supply-chain inspection points (diamonds) and evaluates the statistical results to determine quality trends and address improvements. The service uses a consortium of testing labs, customers and regulatory agencies teamed to test and report on fuel quality across the supply chain. The results of the evaluation will illustrate quality compliance at state and national levels, and provide quality data to improve public confidence in the fuel.
Quality Checkpoints
The biodiesel raw material, refined product and blended product is received, processed, stored and sold by many entities in the supply chain. If biodiesel testing is conducted at the various illustrated inspection points and quality is verified before further processes are conducted, the reliability of the fuel can be assured. This inspection concept is central to the manufacturing processes endorsed by businesses using the ISO 9000 process and is central to the biodiesel industry endorsed BQ 9000 process. Until now, the high cost of testing has been a deterrent to the frequent in-process testing that is necessary to insure supply chain quality.
Lower Cost Testing
Lower cost professional testing is now available through the BQTS© program enabled by AgriFuels partnership with the University of Connecticut (UConn). UConn’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE) has been an EPA and Connecticut Department of Health certified laboratory for over 15 years. In the spring of 2009, Connecticut provided funds to UConn to purchase state of the art test equipment for ASTM testing of biodiesel to support growth of the biodiesel industry and state efforts to become energy independent.
Test Programs
CESE contracted with AgriFuels LLC in the summer of 2009 to obtain biodiesel samples from state and national producers, marketers and regulatory agencies for inexpensive testing. AgriFuels and CESE are using the resulting non-proprietary analytical data to identify trends and provide rigorous analysis for improved quality management and corrective actions as this quantitative information is shared with BQTS members.
Tier I & Tier II: Formal Testing
AgriFuels LLC has organized, with the endorsement of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), the ASTM test methods for B100/99, B6-20 and B1-5 into formal and surveillance Testing Tiers. Tier I and Tier II testing provides formal Certificate of Analysis(COA), from a certified laboratory for product certification and regulatory compliance.
| What to Test |
Recommended Tests |
D6751–B100
Biodiesel |
Tier-I
Full Spec Test
Fuel Certification
For Sellers |
Tier-II
Key Property Test
Acceptance Screening
for Buyers & Regulatory |
D7467–B6-B20
Biodiesel Blend |
D975–B0-B5
Engine Diesel |
D396–B0-B5
Oil Heat—Burner |
Tier III: Informal Field-level Screening
Portable visual and quantitative methods/devices are used to screen Biodiesel and Biodiesel Blend quality at field locations such as the producer, blender, and distributor sites. Some of these methods are not required to be ASTM compliant, but do have a strong correlation to the formal ASTM measured results. Products which fail or measure near the allowable limit are considered to be “suspect no-conformant” and at least Tier II testing is recommended to determine compliance and support actions which may have to be taken to address a confirmed non-conformance. Tier III testing does not replace the Tier I and Tier II formal Certificate of Analysis(COA), but does provide immediate measures to manage your process, and reduce liability and risk of non-compliant product.
Suggested properties for B100/B99 Tier III screening includes: Blend% Content, Flash Point, Free & Total Glycerin, Acid Number and Water & Sediment. AgriFuels can recommend Tier-III solutions.
BQTS Membership
AgriFuels has published Customer Guidelines which describes the processes for completing the membership application, sampling, packaging, completing the Chain of Custody forms to accompany the samples, ordering the tests and shipping samples.
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