Chemical analysis

Last update: 6 April 2022

For more than thirty-five years, our team has been developing skills in chemical and physico-chemical analyses of the biomasses and products from energy conversion processes: pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, torrefaction, vegetable oils and derived products.

Our analysis methods and techniques have been tested and assessed as part of round robin tests. Upstream of the analysis, sampling lines enabling the collection of gases and condensates from reactors have been developed. The latter are transportable and regularly used at industrial sites with our partners or with our customers.

Our main analytical chemistry equipment comprises:

  • GC-MSMS Agilent 8890 coupled with an Agilent 7000D mass spectrometer fitted with a FID detector. The device is equipped with a split/splitless injector.
    Application: identification and quantification of organic compounds (tars, bio-oil, vegetable oils, torrefaction products, etc.).
  • GC (Gas Chromatography): an Agilent 6890 coupled with an Agilent 5975 (quadrupole) mass spectrometer fitted with a FID detector. The device is equipped with a split/splitless injector.
    Application: identification and quantification of organic compounds (tars, bio-oil, vegetable oils, torrefaction products, etc.).
  • Micro CPG Varian CP 4900 with TCD detector.
    Application: analysis of incondensable gases (H2, CO, CO2, CH4, etc.).
  • Combustion gas analyser: a Quintox KM9106 equipped with electrochemical cells.
    Application: analysis of flue gases from engines/burners and NOx.
  • Karl Fisher Titrator Mettler Toledo (determination of moisture content)
  • pH-meter Mettler Toledo
  • Viscometer Brookfield
  • Elementary analyzer Variomacrocube Elementar (C, H, N)
  • Calorimeter PAAR Isoperibol (HHV / LHV)
  • Chemisorption analyser Micromeritics (PTO / PTR / PTD)
  • Soxlhet extractor allowing the extraction of the chemicals contained in wood and biomass.
  • UV-Visible Spectrophotometer It is based on the absorption of light, depending on concentration. It is used for quantitative analyses by measuring relative absorption according to wavelengths, quantification of total phenols and flavonols, quantification of sugars (by the enzymatic pathway), and quantification of soluble lignin.
  • TGA/DSC Mettler coupled with CG-MS for volatil compound release from thermic degradation of samples.

Last update: 6 April 2022