Novel Method for the Determination of Sediment by Hot Filtration for Bio-Oil and Residual Fuel Blends

To meet decarbonization targets, maritime shipping will need to introduce new biofuels made from widely available feedstock such as lignocellulose. For drop-in use of biofuels, such as catalytic pyrolysis bio-oil, the validation or adaptation of the methods recommended in the marine fuel standard specifications (ISO 8217) will be essential. Stability and compatibility of bioresidual fuels are assessed from total sediment analysis. The sediment is isolated by hot filtration, and an accurate determination requires an efficient washing of the filters. This study showed that with bio-oil blends, after washing with the recommended hydrocarbon solvents, a significant amount of polar compounds remained in the filters. The significant mass gain of the filters, which could represent more than 1% of the fuel sample mass, was associated with poor method repeatability and inconsistent total sediment results. Additional filter rinsing with acetone efficiently removed the polar compounds (filter mass gain <0.05% of sample mass) and gave more consistent results. The discussion further explains the impact of filter washing efficiency on sediment measurement. It also addresses potential improvements to develop an adapted method, aiming at facilitating the adoption of marine biofuels from lignocellulosic feedstock.