# Renewable diesel and SAF: Characteristics

Why pure paraffin jet fuel is capped at half the tank

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/characteristics/

What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.

HVO and HEFA-SPK are pure paraffins, so they contain no oxygen, sulphur or aromatics. That gives high cetane and storage stability for diesel; for jet the lack of aromatics limits blends to 50% because seals need some aromatics.

#### Properties that matter commercially

| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cetane number** | about 70-90 against about 50 for fossil diesel (indicative) | cleaner combustion; can be used neat | indicative |
| **Standard** | EN 15940 paraffinic diesel; ASTM D975; ASTM D7566 Annex A2 for HEFA-SPK (indicative) | allows sale as drop-in fuel | indicative |
| **Blend limit (SAF)** | up to 50% with fossil jet (ASTM D7566) | aromatics needed for seal swell | indicative |
| **Energy content** | about 44 MJ/kg (indicative) | slightly above fossil diesel per kg, lower density | indicative |

#### Commercial grades

- HVO100 (neat paraffinic diesel)
- HVO blends (R33, R99)
- HEFA-SPK (SAF)
- Bio-naphtha
- Bio-propane

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/index.md)
- [Energy overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/energy/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/correlation/index.md)
- [Efficiency](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/efficiency/index.md)
- [Techniques](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/techniques/index.md)
- [Resources and labour](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/resources/index.md)
- [Impact on the biosphere](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/biosphere/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/overview/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/regulation/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/links/index.md)