More and more businesses are looking at biodiesel to cut their dependence on fossil fuels and lower their emissions. It can be used in many boilers, generator sets and diesel engines, either on its own or blended with regular diesel. But to get good results, it helps to understand what biodiesel is and how to handle it.
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats or used cooking oil. These oils go through a chemical process called transesterification, which turns them into a fuel with properties close to diesel. India's National Policy on Biofuels encourages biodiesel production, including from used cooking oil, which would otherwise go to waste.
What do B100, B20 and B10 mean?
The number tells you how much biodiesel the fuel contains:
- B100 is pure, 100% biodiesel.
- B20 is 20% biodiesel blended with 80% diesel.
- B10 is 10% biodiesel blended with 90% diesel.
Lower blends are the easiest way to start, since most equipment runs on them without changes. B100 gives the biggest environmental benefit but needs a little more care.
Where industry uses biodiesel
- Boilers and furnaces: as a cleaner-burning alternative or blend component for industrial heating.
- Generator sets: for backup and captive power.
- Vehicles and machinery: fleets, construction equipment and farm machinery, usually as a blend.
The benefits
- Renewable: made from plant and waste oils rather than crude oil.
- Lower emissions: it contains very little sulphur and generally produces less smoke and soot.
- Safer to store: its flash point is much higher than regular diesel's.
- Good lubricity: it helps protect fuel pumps and injectors.
- Biodegradable: spills are less harmful to soil and water.
Things to plan for
- Slightly lower energy content: biodiesel carries a little less energy per litre than diesel, so consumption can be slightly higher.
- Tank cleaning: biodiesel acts as a mild solvent and can loosen old deposits in tanks and lines. Clean tanks before switching and check filters more often at first.
- Seals and hoses: some older rubber parts are not suited to B100. Check with your equipment maker, especially before running pure biodiesel.
- Cold weather: biodiesel thickens at low temperatures. This is rarely a problem in most of India, but matters in cold regions or winter nights.
- Storage life: keep tanks sealed and dry, and use stock within a few months, as biodiesel can absorb moisture and degrade if stored too long.
What to check before you buy
- Ask for a test certificate for every batch, covering density, flash point, water content and acid value, against the relevant BIS specification.
- Ask what feedstock the fuel is made from and whether quality stays consistent between batches.
- Confirm the supplier can deliver reliably, in the quantities you need.
- Start with a trial run or a blend in one piece of equipment before switching your whole plant.
Get biodiesel from Arabo Impex
Arabo Impex supplies B100 biodiesel for industrial use. Tell us what equipment you plan to run and your expected monthly quantity, and our team will help you choose the right grade and send a quotation.
