Consulting and Technology Transfer Project on Biodiesel Quality Control and Laboratory Set Up for Thai Biodiesel Oil Co.,Ltd. Introduction: In the present day, Thailand and many countries as oil imported countries are facing a difficulty due to an unstable rising of petroleum fuel price. While the fuel consumption rate keeps increasing, especially, Diesel fuel which is the most consumed by Thai transportation sector. Therefore, Thai government is promoting a renewable energy strategy, which calling for a minimum of 8% share of energy consumption to be of renewable resources by 2011. Biodiesel is included in this strategy and the target for biodiesel use in Thailand by 2011 will reach 4.5 MLPD. It is expected that more than 80 biodiesel production plants will be set up around Thailand especially in the rural area. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel from renewable resource. The raw materials for biodiesel production are vegetable oil which is extracted from various types of oil plants such as crude palm oil (CPO), soybean oil, etc and used vegetable oil. The production plants of biodiesel using a conventional transesterification reaction are widely established around Thailand. However, not many biodiesel production plants have testing the quality of biodiesel that they had produced. This causes the quality of biodiesel to be unqualified as specify by the bio- diesel standard set by Ministry of Energy. Therefore, National Metal and Materials Center by MTEC Energy Research Group had started a project to provide consulting and technology transfer on biodiesel quality control and laboratory set up for Thai enterprises. Vituruch Goodwin, Parncheewa Udomsap, Ukrit Sahapatsombat and Rapeepun Rahong. Biofuel Testing Laboratory, Bioenergy Research Group National Metal and Materials Technology Center, (MTEC) MTEC Energy Research Group places importance on quality control and technology transfer of biodiesel production to upgrade both quality and production process of Thai enterprises. Our group also promotes the implementation of good quality biodiesel that pass standard specification to avoid any damage to the engine run on biodiesel. Our group anticipates that this project to setting up of Biodiesel Quality Testing Laboratory for Thai Biodiesel Oil Co., Ltd. will lead to good quality control of biodiesel produced in rural area of Thailand. Project detail: Thai Biodiesel Oil Co.,Ltd. is located in Kanchanaburi province approximately 129 kilometers west of Bangkok. This biodiesel production plant was established in 2005. The average production of biodiesel is range from 70,000-80,000 LPD using crude and refined palm oil and used vegetable oil as raw materials.. MTEC Energy Research Group had visited the plant in 2007. While Thai Biodiesel Oil Co.Ltd was seeking for an advice to establish Biodiesel Quality Testing Lab in order to improve the biodiesel production process and quality. MTEC then start the consulting and technology transfer project to setting up a laboratory for Thai Biodiesel Oil Co.,Ltd. in August. Objectives: 1. To transfer the testing technology of raw materials such as Acid Value measurement of crude and used oil to calculate the quantity of catalyst for transesterification process. 2. To set up Biodiesel Quality Testing Laboratory included providing advice on floor plan of laboratory, selection of testing apparatus such Gas Chromatograph (GC) Acid Value measurement by titration Biodiesel training session Thai Biodiesel Oil Co.,Ltd. Plants in Kanchanaburi as Viscometer, Gas Chromato- graph (GC), and Karl Fischer Coulometer and reagents as required by standard methods. 3. To train biodiesel quality testing technique for biodiesel labora- tory operators. Karl Fischer Coulometer Viscometer