Overview of Development of Standard Analytical Procedures for Biomass Feedstocks

Research and development of bioenergy as a renewable energy source has made significant progress during the past few decades and as bioenergy matures into a commercial energy source the need for biomass standards cannot be overemphasized. The bioenergy community recognized this need more than a decade ago and organized the 'Biomass Energy Meeting' to define what feedstocks to use as standards forbiomass analysis and conversion processes. Four biomass feedstocks were identified by this workshop: Wheat straw, sugar cane bagasse, pinus radiata, and populus deltoides. These feedstocks have been developed into standard research materials and can be obtained from NIST at a nominal cost. In addition, standard methods of analysis of the reference feedstocks were developed to complement thefeedstocks preparation. These analytical methods were tested in a worldwide round robin in 1991. After the round robin test, researchers at NREL have been collaborating with the American Society of Materials and Testing (ASTM) Subcommittee E-48.05 on Biomass Conversion to convert to ASTM standards some of the compositional analysis methods developed during the round robin. Six methods (E1755-95,E1756-95, E1757-95, E1758-95, E1721-95, and E1690-95) have been approved for publication as ASTM standard methods. Other methods are undergoing review for consideration as ASTM standards. Additionally, NREL researchers are collaborating with the ASTM E48.05 Subcommittee on Biomass Conversion to develop standard analytical methods for various biomass conversion processes and products includingsimultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), rapid analytical pyrolysis of biomass, and moisture analysis of biocrude oils.