Kelly S. Davis

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Quality Issues for Ethanol as a Fuel

• Kelly S. Davis
• director of Technical Customer services
• Hawkeye Gold, LLc
• Ames, Iowa

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U.S. Fuel Ethanol Production
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Fuel Ethanol Products

• For blending with
• gasoline at a 10
• maximum volume

• Alternative Fuel

E-95
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ASTM Standards for Fuel EthanolPerformance
Specifications

• ASTM D 4806-07a Standard Specification for
  Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with
  Gasoline's for use as Automotive Spark-Ignition
  Engine Fuel
• ASTM D 5798-07 Standard Specification for Fuel
  Ethanol (Ed75-Ed85) for Automotive Spark-Ignition
  Engines

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ASTM D 4806-07a
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ASTM D 4806-07a
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Workmanship Free of known adulterants Denaturant
Specifications ASTM specifies what cannot be
used, example kerosene or diesel, must be TTB
approved denaturant, with ASTM D86 lt225 F and
pass copper strip corrosion test, typically
acceptable is natural gasoline, unleaded
gasoline or straight run gasoline Filtration (10
microns) Corrosion Inhibitors are added
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California Specifications
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Gasoline Standard D 4814 Ethanol Impacts

• Increases Octane
• Increases RVP1 psi waiver granted by EPA
• T50 decreases 10 30 F
• T V/L 20 volatility parameter decreases
• States adopt D4814 as law, recently due to
  increases RFS states had to quickly change some
  of these parameters before ASTM in order to
  accommodate E10 blending.

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E85 is getting attention
Now that it is being used auto manufacturers
getting feedback on quality performance
parameters ASTM has formed a task force to
update the Standard Specification D 5798 Test
methods scope issues Volatility issues,
current RVP for Class 3 difficult to meet with
available hydrocarbons CRC research completed
for Class 1 and 2 and Class 3 to be determined to
address RVP issues
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E85 ASTM D 5798
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Higher Blends E11 and Beyond

• In 2005 State of Minnesota passed legislation
  requiring E20 by 2013
• Minnesota and RFA pushing ahead with plans to
  seek a waiver from EPA
• Clean Air Act Waiver have to be satisfied in
  order to register and make available commercial
  blends with greater than 10 ethanol content for
  non-FFVs

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Clean Air Act Process

• Section 211(b) Health Effects Testing Tier 1
  complete and Tier 2 underway for E10. Some
  speculation this will be sufficient for E20.
• Section 211(f) Substantially Similar E20 will
  not cause or contribute to the failure of any
  vehicle or engine to meet emissions standards.
  Any waiver is nationwide. Application on public
  notice.

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Section 211(f) Testing Requirements

• E20 waiver will need data to support three major
  areas
• Emissions evaporative, exhaust and permeation
• Includes small engines including lawn mowers,
  motorcycles, snowmobiles etc.
• Material Compatibility and Durability
• Driveability

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Other Issues

• UL Listing of E85 Retail Pumps
• Blender Pumps have no ASTM Specifications
• International Trade of Ethanol for Fuel
• ASTM working on an International Undenatured
  Standard Specification

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The Road Ahead

• 
  Thank You