To address the current lack of certified reference materials (CRMs) for biodiesel analysis, the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission (EC), launched a comprehensive feasibility study on the production of biodiesel CRMs for relevant specification parameters as provided in EN 14214, the basis for defining product specifications and measurement methods for biodiesel in the European Union (EU). Laboratories need to be able to check the performance of their methods. This is also true for standardized methods, the use of which does not per se guarantee reliable results. Without underestimating the role and importance of other quality control tools, this paper is focused on aspects for the development of appropriate CRMs to be used for quality control in biodiesel analysis. Homogeneity and stability of a biodiesel material were investigated with dedicated studies. Of the 22 parameters considered overall, it could be shown that it would be feasible to produce a sufficiently homogeneous and stable material for 12 of them in a straightforward manner.
A comprehensive feasibility study for the production of a biodiesel reference material for relevant specification parameters as provided in EN 14214 was launched because of insufficient knowledge available for most of the steps needed for the production of new biodiesel certified reference materials (CRMs). This paper summarizes the findings of this study for the characterization and final value assignment of a biodiesel reference material. Assigned values were calculated as the unweighted mean of the laboratory means of the accepted sets of results for each parameter. Uncertainties were estimated in compliance with the “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement” (GUM, ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008), including contributions from characterization, homogeneity, and stability studies. Of the 22 parameters considered overall, it could be shown that it would be feasible to prepare and certify reference material for 7 of them (ester, linolenic acid methyl ester, triacylglycerol, total glycerol, iodine value, oxidation stability, and acid value) with the approach taken thus far. For the remaining parameters, different problems were encountered. Although raising a considerable number of challenges, the development of a future biodiesel CRM for many parameters seems feasible. The provision of such a material would favor the building of a harmonized measurement system and, consequently, comparable analytical results.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.