Biofuels

IPL provides an extensive range of biofuel analysis and has a wealth of knowledge in the biofuels sphere. We perform testing to ensure your product meets the Regulations and guidelines and provide quality assurance to the supply chain. 

Recent trends in the biofuel industry indicate that biofuel blends are set to become a major part of the New Zealand fuel industry. Biofuel blends are a mix of traditional fossil fuels and a fuel made from a renewable substance such as tallow, vegetable oil or ethanol. As new types of biofuels are being developed, standard biofuel testing methods do not always work as intended, hence why the expertise and method knowledge of a fuels testing laboratory becomes quite critical.

IPL has developed testing expertise for:
Ethanol testing

Ethanol and blends

Crude assay is essentially the evaluation of a crude by physical and chemical testing. We can assay the crude to evaluate the boiling range distribution of the cut points or complete a comprehensive characterisation that includes full chemical testing of the various boiling range fractions produced from the distillation.

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Biodiesel testing

Biodiesel and blends

Detection of trace and ultra trace concentrations of total mercury including crude hydrocarbons, condensates, LPG and gas streams.  IPL utilises two methods of quantification to determine mercury to a limit of quantification of 0.2 ppb ug/kg. 

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renewable jet testing bio-jet testing

Renewable Jet fuel

IPL is the first laboratory in NZ with the capability to perform the required weathering and dispersant testing for oil discharge management plans as regulated by Maritime NZ.

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feedstock analysis

Feedstock and others

C1-C9

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With a new generation of biofuels being developed, it is important to choose a testing laboratory that has specific expertise and knowledge of the methods required which meet industry standards.

FAQs

  • What are Solid Biofuels?

    Solid biofuels or wood fuel is an alternative used to produce heat or electricity. Sawdust, woodchips and wood pellets are the most common types of solid biofuels and are more environmentally friendly than coal. Wood fuel is a growing industry and guidelines have been established to ensure product quality throughout the supply chain. 


  • What are the Solid Biofuels tests IPL can perform?

    IPL has developed niche testing to identify potential contamination, to determine the purity of a product or as part of your quality assurance processes. The tests methods include:

    - Heavy metals (Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Lead and Zinc)

    - Trace Mercury 20ppt (ng/kg)

  • What are Liquid Biofuels?

    Liquid biofuels offer an alternative fuel for all types of internal combustion engines such as Bioethanol (substitute to petrol), Biodiesel (substitute to diesel), Bio-jet (substitute to Jet A-1), bio oils/bio crude (substitute to bunker oil in marine-type engines).  IPL has developed the full test suite as per the New Zealand Engine Fuel Specification Regulations 2011.