Biomass

Biomass is a renewable energy source derived from biological materials. It is mainly used to generate electricity or to produce heat.

Biomass can be divided into four categories: 1) Woody biomass from forest residues (dead trees, branches and tree trunks), pruning waste and wood chips, 2) agricultural by-products such as palm kernel flakes, coffee husks, rice husks and olive oil press cake, 3) green waste from households and industry, such as vegetable and garden waste or industrial waste, 4) energy crops grown for use as biomass, such as eucalyptus trees.

TLR is certified  (L059) according to the ISO 17025 standard for a large number of analyses relevant for biomass and fuels.

Which analyses are available for biomass?

Chemical analyses

- Ultimate analyses (hydrogen, carbon, sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen)

- Proximate analyses (moisture, ash, volatile compounds and calorific value)

- Ash composition (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, P₂O₅, CaO, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O, MnO₂, SO₃, etc.)

- Ash fusion temperature

- Hardgrove Grindability Index (for carbonised materials)

- Metals

- Anions (fluoride, chloride, bromide)

- Radioactivity (Caesium 134 and Caesium 137)

Physical analyses

- Particle size of pellets

- Sieving tests

- Particle size distribution (granulometry) of wood chips and wood pellets

- Characterisation test

- Dust

- Mechanical durability