The original specification for cetane number in D6751 had no immediate technical basis except that it aligned with the NCWM Premium Diesel definition at 47 and most of the fuels met this minimum. Given that the only controlling factor for the cetane number of the ester is the fat source used as the feed-stock, some biodiesel will have a resultant cetane number below 47 but still be a very high quality fuel. This ballot attempts to align the biodiesel cetane number specification to that in D975 at 40., a performance-based number which has served the industry for decades. This will allow additional feed-stocks to be used to produce a high quality fuel, especially as the pool for these feed-stocks becomes narrower.
Date Initiated: 06-21-2021
Technical Contact: Shawn Broughton
Item: 002
Ballot: D02.E0 (21-05)
Status: Will Reballot Item
Item: 001
Ballot: D02.E0 (22-05)
Status: In Balloting