The following is an excerpt from the Dept of Energy's Clean Cities website on Bio Fuels and Blends.
Original in PDF format
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Safety and Environmental Regulation
Composition Information: Biodiesel contains no hazardous materials. Biodiesel contains a variety of fatty acid methyl esters with carbon chain lengths varying between 12 and 22, where 18 carbon chains are the most common. Small quantities (less than 1%) of other materials may be present and should not exceed fuel quality standards.
Handling and Storage: Store in clean, dry, approved diesel equipment between 50° F and 120°F. Keep away from oxidizing agents, excessive heat, and ignition sources. Store and use in well-ventilated areas. Do not store or use near heat, spark, or flame. Store out of the sun. Do not puncture, drag, or slide drums or totes. Drum and totes are not pressure vessels; never use pressure to empty.
Inhalation: Negligible danger unless heated to produce vapors. Vapors or finely misted materials may irritate the mucous membranes and cause irritation, dizziness, and nausea. If this occurs remove to fresh air. If vapors or mists are generated, wear a NIOSH approved organic vapor/mist respirator.
Eye Contact: May cause irritation. Irrigate eye with water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. Safety glasses, goggles, or face shield are recommended to protect eyes from mists or splashing.
Acute Oral Toxicity/Rates: Biodiesel is nontoxic and there are no hazards anticipated from ingestion incidental to industrial exposure. If ingested, give one or two glasses of water to drink. If gastro-intestinal symptoms develop, consult medical personnel. (Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.) Effects are similar to those associated with laxatives. The acute oral LD50 (lethal dose) is greater than 17.4 g/Kg body weight. By comparison, table salt
(NaCL) is nearly 10 times more toxic.
Skin Irritation & Humans: A 24-hr. human patch test indicated that undiluted biodiesel produced very mild irritation. The irritation was less than the result produced by a 4 percent soap and water solution. Wash with soap and water. Avoid contact with hot fuel as it may cause burns. PVC coated gloves are recommended to prevent skin contact. May soften skin.
Aquatic Toxicity: A 96-hr. lethal concentration of biodiesel for bluegills was greater than 1000 mg/L. Lethal concentrations at these levels are generally deemed "insignificant" according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) guidelines in its Registry of the Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances.
Biodegradability: Biodiesel degrades about four times faster than petroleum diesel. Within 28 days, pure biodiesel degrades 85% to 88% in water. Dextrose (a test sugar used as the positive control when testing biodegradability) degraded at the same rate. Blending Biodiesel with diesel fuel accelerates its biodegradability. For example, blends of 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel degrade twice as fast as #2 diesel alone.
Flash Point: The flash point of a fuel is defined as the temperature at which it will ignite when exposed to a spark or flame. Biodiesel's flash point is over 150°F, well above petroleum based diesel fuel's flash point of around 125° Fahrenheit. Testing has shown the flash point of biodiesel blends increases as the percentage of biodiesel increases. Therefore, biodiesel and blends of biodiesel with petroleum diesel are safer to store, handle, and use than conventional diesel fuel.
Fire Fighting Measures: Firefighters should use self-contained breathing apparatus to avoid exposure to smoke and vapor. Combustion produces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide along with thick smoke. Fires may be extinguished with dry chemical, foam, halon, CO2 , or water spray (fog). Use water spray to cool drums exposed to heat or flames. (Caution-Water stream may splash the burning liquid and spread fire.) Oil soaked rags can cause spontaneous combustion if not handled properly. Before disposal, wash rags with soap and water and dry in
well ventilated area.
Accidental Release/Spills: Remove sources of ignition, contain spill to smallest area possible. Stop leak if possible. Pick up small spills with absorbent materials such as paper towels, "Oil Dry," sand, or dirt. Recover large spills for salvage or disposal. Wash hard surfaces with safety solvent or detergent to remove remaining oil film. Greasy nature will result in a slippery surface.
Regulatory:
UN HAZARD CLASS: N/A
NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification):
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Fatty acid ester
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 144920
SHIPPING CLASSIFICATION: 65
OSHA: This product is not hazardous under the criteria of the Federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200. However, thermal processing and decomposition fumes from this product may be hazardous as noted in fire fighting section.
TSCA: This product is listed on TSCA.
CERCLA: (Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act). NOT reportable.
SARA TITLE III: (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act), Section 312 Extremely Hazardous Substances, None. Section 311/312 Hazard Categories, Non-hazardous under Section 311/312. Section 313 Toxic Chemicals, None.
RCRA: If discarded in its purchased form, this product would not be a hazardous waste either by listing or by characteristic. However, under RCRA, it is the responsibility of the product user to determine at the time of disposal whether a material containing the product or derived from the product should be classified as a hazardous waste (40 CFR 261.20-24).
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65:The following statement is made in order to comply with the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. This product contains no chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer.
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