Agilent 4500 and 5500 FTIR Biodiesel Analyzers

Importance of the topic

Biodiesel provides an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional diesel, but its storage and blending with petroleum-based fuels can lead to biological growth, oxidation, and compatibility issues in engine components. Accurate determination of biodiesel content is essential to ensure fuel quality and comply with ASTM and CEN standards.

Aims and overview of the study

This overview presents the capabilities of Agilent 4500 and 5500 portable FTIR Biodiesel Analyzers, designed to deliver rapid, precise measurements of biodiesel concentration and related quality parameters in both laboratory and field settings. The analyzers are optimized to meet standardized methods and to adapt to varying regulatory limits for biodiesel blends.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The systems employ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with pre-installed transmission sampling interfaces (TumblIR™ and DialPath™ liquid cells) to minimize maintenance. They are factory-calibrated using ASTM D7371 and EN 14078 protocols and include:

• Agilent 4500 Series portable FTIR analyzer
• Agilent 5500 Series benchtop FTIR analyzer
• TumblIR™ and DialPath™ liquid cells for consistent sample handling
• Pre-configured software methods and optional validation standards

Main results and discussion

Using custom calibration models, the analyzers accurately predicted biodiesel content across three concentration ranges (0.025–1 %, 1–10 %, 10–20 %). Key performance metrics included SECV values from 0.0016 % to 0.04 %, R² of 0.9999 for all ranges, and average relative errors below 1.4 %. Spectral overlays demonstrated clear differentiation at ultra-low biodiesel levels down to 0.025 %.

Benefits and practical applications

The Agilent FTIR biodiesel analyzers offer:

• Rapid, on-site quantification of biodiesel in diesel fuel
• Minimal maintenance requirements and user training
• Out-of-the-box readiness with pre-tested methods
• Reduced method development time and costs by up to 80 %
• Applicability to both laboratory and field environments

Future trends and potential applications

Advancements may include integration with IoT-enabled monitoring systems, expanded applications in petrochemical quality control, enhanced chemometric algorithms for complex blend analysis, and real-time fuel stability assessment. Such developments will further support proactive quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

Agilent’s 4500 and 5500 FTIR Biodiesel Analyzers provide a robust, accurate, and user-friendly solution for measuring biodiesel content in diesel fuels. Their deployment can enhance fuel quality monitoring, simplify regulatory compliance, and support efficient field and laboratory workflows.

References

Agilent Technologies. Agilent FTIR Biodiesel Analyzers Application Note, 5991-1208EN, November 2012.