Title : Carbon-14 analysis: An accurate verification method for verifying the biogenic carbon content of biomass-derived fuels
Abstract:
This presentation will explore the methodology and applications of biogenic carbon content measurement of biofuels via ASTM D6866 carbon-14 analysis. Analysis is performed using an Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) instrument. Bio-ethanol and biodiesel are processed using photosynthetic plants that contain the radioactive isotope carbon-14. The detection limit of carbon-14 analysis is approximately 43,500 years, making this method highly accurate and reliable for detecting and measuring carbon-14. Biofuels from fossil-derived sources will not contain any carbon-14 due to radioactive decay. The results of biogenic content testing reveal the fraction of biomass- derived versus fossil-fuel derived carbon in biofuels. Mixtures formulated with a fraction of biomass can be measured and verified accurately.
Biogenic content testing is recognized by biomass industry manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors as a reliable third-party verification tool for validating the biogenic carbon content of biofuel blends. Refineries can also benefit from the precision of carbon-14 analysis to determine the ratio of their biofuel blends that originate from bio-oil as opposed to petroleum feedstocks.
Additionally, several industry regulations require ASTM D6866 biogenic carbon testing. For example, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and the Dutch Emissions Authority’s Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Regulation recognize ASTM D6866 biogenic content testing results. In North America, the US EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR), and the California Air Resources Board Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) also accept carbon-14 analysis to validate the accuracy of biogenic content.
