Biogas Analysis
Biogas is usually generated from waste, and as such often harbours harmful compounds that constitute a hazard, or are capable of damaging equipment whilst the fuel is burnt. Ceram has extensive experience in the monitoring and analysis of landfill and biogas type gases. Having developed a wide range of UKAS accredited (ISO17025) tests on these materials (UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 0013), Ceram is an authority in this field of analysis.
What is Biogas?
Biogas is formed when organic matter is broken down in the absence of oxygen in a process called anaerobic digestion. The gas is formed from the digestion of waste materials such as sewage sludge, manure, municipal waste (landfill) and other biomass such as crop and food production waste. Typically rich in methane, the gas is often utilised as a fuel. Biogas is frequently burnt in gas engines to provide heat and power, but is also compressed for use in cars and fed into the general gas supply. As a renewable fuel, biogas qualifies for subsidies in certain parts of the world.
Why Monitor?
Halogenated organic compounds and volatile siloxanes are examples of chemical compounds often found in biogas which are capable of causing damage to gas engines. Monitoring is often required to determine what mitigation procedures are required to clean the gas prior to use, for example whether charcoal filters are necessary. The gas is also monitored to ensure cleanup protocols are working efficiently, to establish if the filters require regenerating or replacing and to inspect the calorific values before usage as a fuel.
At Ceram, our biogas testing offerings include:
- Bulk gas constituents (C1-C4 hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, helium)
- Hydrogen sulphide
- Organsulphur compounds
- Carbon monoxide
- Trace VOCs
- Siloxanes
- Terpenes
- Alkanes
- Alkyl esters
- Sampling following technical guidance LFTGN04
- Analysis following technical guidance LFTGN04
- Aldehydes and ketones
- Isocyanates
- Mercury *
- Volatile fatty acids *
- Alcohols *
Ceram has an extended Biogas Trace Analysis Suite which encompasses:
- Trace gases
- Environment Agency (EA) extra compounds list
- Terpenes
- Esters
- Alkanes
NB: Items marked with a * are not currently covered by our UKAS (ISO17025) Accreditation.
To view the full list of compounds and their UKAS (ISO17025) Accreditation status click here.
