A few more bits of information I've been able to dig up. The manufacturer claims its "40% higher cetane than conventional diesel". If they are comparing it to CA 53 minimum cetane, that would make this 74 cetane. Another hydrotreated vegetable oil manufacturer in Europe is claiming 80+ cetane.
The end product goes by several different names depending on the market:
biomass based diesel (US FTC name)
green diesel
HVO- hydrotreated vegetable oil
reneweable diesel
paraffinic diesel
The hydrotreating process can be applied to any number of feed stocks including animal fats, plant oils, crude oil, natural gas (GTL -gas to liquid fuel) and even gassified wood. Regardless of the feedstock, the hydrotreating process yields essentially the same thing. A very high cetane, high energy density, low lubricity fuel that is clear in color and can be run in all diesel engine at any ratio unlike biodiesel.
NEXBTL Renewable Diesel vs. Fossil Diesel
Don't try this at home:
http://youtu.be/9n9223uQgiA
The downside is
LUBRICITY. In the US diesel fuel has to have an HFRR of less than 520 micron. In Europe its less than 460 micron. While biodiesel has very good lubricity (less than 300 micron) the hydrotreated fuel is much worse... 640 micron. The manufacturer has to put lubricity additives in the fuel in order for it to meet the ASTM D975 standard in the US of less than 520 micron wear scar. I would suggest using a lubricity additive with this fuel just to be sure (TCW3, WVO, SVO etc).
HVO is old name for our "biomass diesel"
EN590 is Euro spec petrolium diesel similar to current ULSD
GTL - natural gas to liquid fuel usually produced through Fischer–Tropsch process
FAME - Fatty acid methyl esters, aka biodiesel
Notice that HVO has a higher energy density per KG but slightly lower energy density per liter than conventional diesel. Too bad we don't by fuel by the KG or LB. Also notice how they fudged on the lubricity by saying well they all have to meet the same 460 micron lubricity standard so theres no diff
IF the lubricity additives are there. Biodiesel is in the 300 micron range without the additives.
In
this PDF they buried the lubricity of the fuel in a footnote on page 15.
