Transport

As with petroleum diesel, B100 must be transported in a way that does not lead to contamination. The following procedures are recommended for trucks and railcars and are used by distributors and transporters of diesel fuel.

• Ensure that trucks and railcars are constructed of aluminum, carbon steel, or stainless steel.
• Ensure proper inspection or washout (washout certificate) before loading.
• Check for previous load carried and residual material. Generally, only diesel fuel or biodiesel is acceptable as a residual. If the vessel has not gone through a washout, some residuals, including food products or raw plant oils, gasoline or lubricants,may not be acceptable.
• Ensure there is no residual water in the tank.
• Check that hoses and seals are clean and made from materials that are compatible with B100.
• Determine the need for insulation or a method to heat truck or rail car contents if shipping during cold weather. B100 is challenging to ship in cold weather. In the winter, most B100 is shipped in oneof the following ways:
  
  • Hot (or at least warm) in trucks for immediate delivery at 27°C to 54°C (80°F to 130°F).
  • Frozen after several days in cold weather in railcars equipped with external steam coils (the fuel in the tank cars is melted at the final destination with steam).
  • In a blend with winter diesel, kerosene, or other low cloud point fuel in either railcars or trucks.

Regardless of how the biodiesel arrives, procedures that prevent the temperature of B100 from dropping below its cloud point must be in place. The cloud point of the biodiesel, the biodiesel and ambient temperatures, and the time the fuel is in transport should all be considered when transporting B100 to ensure the fuel does not freeze or can be reliquified.