Terminology of Biofuel Blends

This table contains definitions of common biofuel blends for ethanol, biodiesel and drop-in fuels like renewable diesel.

Biofuel
Definition

B100

B100 (pure biodiesel) is a 100% bio-based fuel derived from biomass. It can be used in diesel engines built since 1994, provided the engines are fitted with biodiesel-compatible parts. Biodiesel feedstocks include vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oil (UCO) and algae.

B5

B5 is a biodiesel blend consisting of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel. It is the most commonly found biodiesel blend in the U.S., where its use is mandated in several states.

B7

B7 is a biodiesel blend containing 7 percent biodiesel. Like all blends containing between 6 and 20 percent biodiesel, B7 fuel is covered by the ASTM D7467 specification. Its use is mandated in several jurisdictions including Germany (for road use) and Malaysia (for industrial use).

B10

B10 is the term used to describe biofuel blends with 10 percent biodiesel content. It is most commonly found in Southeast Asia, primarily due to biodiesel policies in Thailand and Malaysia.

B20

B20 is a higher-level biodiesel blend containing up to 20 percent biodiesel. A majority of diesel car and truck makers selling in the United States allow B20 use in their vehicles.

B99

B99 is the highest-level biodiesel blend, containing between 1 and 0.1 percent petroleum diesel. This fuel blend is more widely distributed than pure biodiesel (B100) in the United States.

E10

E10 is an ethanol blend consisting of up to 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. It is the most common of all biofuel blends currently sold in the United States.

E15

E15 is the term used for biofuel blends containing 15 percent ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency approves E15 for use in vehicles model year 2001 and younger.

E85

E85 is a higher-level biofuel blend containing between 51 and 83 percent ethanol. This blend should only be used in FFVs (Flexible Fuel Vehicles).

Renewable Diesel

Renewable diesel is a biomass-derived diesel fuel refined via hydro-processing. As a result of the refining process, this fuel is chemically identical to petroleum diesel.

Cellulosic Biofuel Blends

Fuels derived from non-food-based biomass such as crop residue or switch grass are referred to as cellulosic biofuels. One such example is biobutanol, which can be blended with other fuels and used in conventional gasoline vehicles.

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