Updated ASTM standard extends biofuel contamination limit

The ASTM International's Aviation Turbine Fuel Standard (ASTM D1655) has been revised to safely adapt to the growing use of biodiesel used throughout the world.

For decades, D1655 has been used to ensure quality control and safe distribution of jet fuel takes places within the industry. Biodiesel blends – which have a small percentage of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) – increasingly use the same distribution systems, such as shipping containers and pipelines as jet fuel. Once the fuel has been transported through a distribution system, traces of FAME may be found.

Initially, the response to the introduction of biodiesels into the marketplace was to maintain an undetectable level of FAME contamination in jet fuel. Due to the costs associated with that requirement and the rising presence of biofuels worldwide, industry experts studied whether the level of allowable FAME in jet fuel could be increased without affecting safety or aircraft operation. The revised standard safely increases the allowable cross-contamination of FAME in jet fuel from 5.0 parts per million to 50 parts per million.

'The jet fuel specification keeps the aviation industry safe while adapting to the expanded presence of biofuels,' says ASTM member David J. Abdallah, Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering. 'In fact, no discernible negative impact on jet fuel product quality was observed with up to 400 ppm of biodiesel.' Abdallah noted that a potential future revision could further increase the standard to allow 100 parts per million.

ASTM D1655 was developed by ASTM Subcommittee D02.J0 on Aviation Fuels and D02.J0.01 on Jet Fuel Specifications, part of Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels and Lubricants.

The body of evidence used to support this revision included EI-JIP Report, Joint Industry Project: Seeking original equipment manufacturer (OEM) approvals for 100 mg/kg fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in aviation turbine fuel.