Canada’s Clean Fuels Regulations Require ASTM D6866 Testing

For Co-Processing Refineries

In July 2022, the Government of Canada released the Quantification Method for Co-
processing Refineries as part of the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR). This quantification
method (QM) is intended for use by registered refineries to apply to have a co-processing
CO₂ Emissions Reduction project in Canada. Registered refineries can obtain credits for the
production of low carbon intensity (CI) fuels under the CFR. Applicable to co-processing
done in either a hydrotreater or a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC), the QM establishes ASTM
D6866 testing to measure the biogenic carbon content of the co-processed feedstocks used
and the low-CI fuels produced in registered projects. Testing and sampling requirements are
detailed as follows:

Projects require testing samples from each fuel, product, and hydrocarbon co-product
to determine the biogenic content and CI of the co-processed low-CI fuel, co-
processed low-CI product, and co-product produced for each fuel pathway.
Samples’ results must be corrected for the percent modern carbon of the low-CI
feedstock and a blank correction of a petroleum-only fuel with no percent modern
carbon should be subtracted from each test result.
Testing frequency will be based on whether projects are using a hydrotreater or FCC.
As of January 31, 2025, ASTM D6866 testing will be required more frequently.

Emissions reductions and corresponding credits are determined by the amount of co-
processed low-CI fuels produced and their reduced lifecycle CI using the results obtained
from the ASTM D6866 testing.

ASTM D6866 Testing At Beta Analytic

ISO 17025-accredited laboratory Beta Analytic offers accurate carbon-14 analysis applicable
for co-processed fuels in accordance with ASTM D6866. Beta Analytic’s expertise lies in
providing high-quality results in a reliable turnaround time and having contributed to the
development of the ASTM D6866 standard.

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