Characteristic of biodiesel – Diesel oil blend in B40 and B50

Biodiesel has become a favourable alternative fuel to diesel. It has been used as a blended fuel with diesel oil. Currently, 30 % biodiesel blend (B30) has been implemented in Indonesia and is projected to increase into B40 or B50. However, increasing the mixture of biodiesel (B100) with diesel oil (B0) may change the characteristics of the mixture fuel, which needs further study as the basis for adjusting the quality standards for a mixture of B100 to B40 and B50. A comparative study has been conducted to analyze the characteristics of B0, B100, B30, B40, and B50, especially for essential parameters such as water content, acid number, metal content, sulfur content, and filter blocking tendency. In this study, three types of B100 (FAME, Hydrogenated FAME, and Distilled Palm Methyl Ester) were mixed with B0 from three refineries of PT. Pertamina (Plaju, Cilacap, and Balongan Refinery). The results showed that the mixture of B0 Balongan and B100 DPME would obtain the lowest impurities in the BXX. Increasing of the B100 mixture was linearly related to the characteristics of the BXX. This study will provide an initial reference in preparing quality standards of B40 and B50.