In cooperation with a large number of experts from the Research Network Bioenergy, the collection of methods for biogas was compiled. The collection provides, for the first time, the opportunity to give an overview of the methods for the determination of analytical and process descriptive parameters and to make comparisons regarding their suitability for specific applications (including strengths and challenges). The first edition was published in 2012, since the collection have regularly updated and expanded.
New edition of the biogas measurement methods collection published in English in 2020.
In 2020 the method articles were updated and supplemented by more than 20 methods from the fields of gas analysis, batch and interlaboratory tests as well as innovative test equipment. Since 2020 the collection of methods for biogas is published in English only.
Editorial notes
Table of abbreviations and symbols
1 Introduction
2 Definitions
3 Methods for the determination of fundamental parameters
3.1 Sampling of manure (Suitability for biogas production)
Walter Stinner, Velina Denysenko, DBFZ
3.2 Determination of total solids (dry matter) and volatile solids (organic dry matter)
Katrin Strach, DBFZ
3.3 Total solids content correction according to Weissbach & Strubelt
Britt Schumacher, DBFZ
3.4 Determination of the VOA value (according to Kapp) and of the VOA/ buffer capacity value (in accordance with FAL)
Katrin Strach, Michael-Dittrich Zechendorf, DBFZ
3.5 Determination of the ammonia nitrogen content
Katrin Strach, DBFZ
3.6 Prediction of process failures by determining the early warning indicators A/elCon, EWI-VFA/Ca and EWI-P/Ca
Patrick Schröder1, Anne Kleyböcker2, Hilke Würdemann1,3
1Hochschule Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
2Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH
3Helmholtz Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ
4 Methods for the determination of chemical parameters
4.1 Determination of aliphatic, organic acids and benzaldehyde with headspace GC
Martin Apelt, DBFZ
4.2 Determination of organic acids
Lucie Moeller, UFZ; Kati Görsch, DBFZ; Dietmar Ramhold, ISF Schaumann Forschung mbH; Erich Kielhorn, TU Berlin
4.3 Determination of aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, volatile fatty acids
Erich Kielhorn, Peter Neubauer, Stefan Junne, TU Berlin
4.4 Examination of samples of solids (substrates) and digestates with HPLC for aliphatic and aromatic acids, alcohols and aldehydes
Martin Apelt, DBFZ
4.5 Determination of sugars and glucose degradation products
Jana Mühlenberg, DBFZ
4.6 Determination of carbohydrates based on GC-MS analytics
Erich Kielhorn, Peter Neubauer, Stefan Junne; TU Berlin
4.7 Determination of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and crude protein
Michael Dittrich-Zechendorf, DBFZ
4.8 Determination of the protein content
Lucie Moeller, UFZ; Kati Görsch, DBFZ
4.9 Determination of crude fat
Michael Dittrich-Zechendorf, DBFZ
4.10 Determination of crude fibre
Michael Dittrich-Zechendorf, DBFZ
4.11 Process specification for the determination of ADF and ADL
Michael Dittrich-Zechendorf, DBFZ
4.12 Determination of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF)
Michael Dittrich-Zechendorf, DBFZ
5 Methods for gas analysis
5.1 Measuring methods for determining gas flow in raw biogas
Robert Binder, Manuela Charatjan, Michael Krafzig, Binder Engineering GmbH
5.2 Measuring methods for determining gas quality in raw biogas
Robert Binder, Manuela Charatjan, Michael Krafzig, Binder Engineering GmbH
5.3 Sampling and measurement of siloxanes
Ute Merrettig-Bruns, Bettina Sayder, Edda Möhle, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT
5.4 Determination of methane emission potential of liquid manure during storage at ambient temperature
Britt Schumacher, Walter Stinner, Katrin Strach, DBFZ; Thomas Amon, ATB
5.5 Emission measurements on plants for biological waste treatment
Carsten Cuhls, gewitra – Ingenieurgesellschaft für Wissenstransfer mbH; Torsten Reinelt, Jan Liebetrau, DBFZ
5.6 Determination of the total emissions from biogas plants by means of optical remote sensing
Tanja Westerkamp (former DBFZ)
5.7 Monitoring of operational methane emissions from pressure relief valves of biogas plants
Torsten Reinelt, Jan Liebetrau, DBFZ
5.8 Measurement of volatile organic trace compounds
Jorge Iván Salazar Gómez, Andrea Gerstner, Alisa Jovic, Fraunhofer UMSICHT
6 Methods for the determination of the physical parameters
6.1 Particle size distributions
Marc Lincke, Karin Jobst, Fraunhofer IKTS
6.2 Determination of the surface tension
Lucie Moeller, UFZ; Kati Görsch, DBFZ
6.3 Determination of the foaming potential by means of the "bubble test"
Lucie Moeller, UFZ; Kati Görsch, DBFZ
6.4 LEIPZIG FOAM TESTER – Test set for the determination of the tendency of a substrate to foam
Lucie Moeller, Yvonne Köster, Andreas Zehnsdorf, UFZ
6.5 Viscosity
6.5.1 Measurement methods for the rheologic characterisation of fermentation substrates
Manuel Brehmer, Matthias Kraume, TU Berlin
6.5.2 Modification of measuring systems for the application to flow behaviour determination of fibrous suspensions
Karin Jobst, Marc Lincke, Fraunhofer IKTS
6.6 Flow analysis
6.6.1 Utilisation of measuring sensors
Manuel Brehmer, Matthias Kraume, TU Berlin
6.6.2 Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT)
Annett Lomtscher, Fraunhofer IKTS
6.7 Determination of the retention time by means of tracers
Helge Lorenz, Yong-Sung Kim, René Benndorf, Peter Fischer, DBFZ
6.8 Determination of the retention time behaviour with the help of studies of tracers
Anne Kleyböcker, GFZ
6.9 Process specification for the determination of sand
Katrin Strach, DBFZ
7 Methods for the determination of biological parameters
7.1 Description of the experiment for the Oberhausen/Rostock/Göttingen Activity Test (ORGA-Test)
Nils Engler, DBFZ
7.2 Nucleic acid based molecular biology tests
Denny Popp, Fabian Bonk, Daniela Becker, Sabine Kleinsteuber, UFZ
7.3 Continuous fermentation tests
Marc Lincke, Björn Schwarz; Fraunhofer IKTS
7.4 Continuous fermentation tests
Katrin Strach, DBFZ
7.5 Microbiological tests
Tobias Lienen1, Patrick Schröder2, Hilke Würdemann1, 2
1Helmholtz Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ
2Hochschule Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
7.6 Culture based quantification of methanogenic reactor communities
Andreas Otto Wagner, Paul Illmer, University of Innsbruck, Institute of Microbiology
7.7 Differentiation of methanogenic pathways in biogas plants using compound-specific stable isotope analysis
Anko Fischer, Kevin Kuntze, Isodetect GmbH; Liane Müller, DBFZ; Hans-Hermann Richnow, Marcell Nikolausz, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
8 Batch tests
8.1 Inter-Laboratory Test: KTBL/VDLUFA-Proficiency Test Biogas
Mark Paterson, Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture; Hans Oechsner, University of Hohenheim; Peter Tillmann, VDLUFA Quality Assurance NIRS GmbH
8.2 Biogas Interlaboratory Tests at the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL)
Günter Henkelmann, Christian Vogt, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, LfL
8.3 LfL - Batch test
Vasilis Dandikas, Fabian Lichti, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, LfL
8.4 Gas yield test (batch)
Marc Lincke, Björn Schwarz, Fraunhofer IKTS
8.5 GRW-Biogas- and Biomethane Potential Test
Nils Engler, DBFZ
8.6 Determination of the maximum possible biogas output of substrates by disintegration with sodium hydroxide
Björn Schwarz, Fraunhofer IKTS
8.7 Design of an Anaerobic Dry Batch Digestion Pilot Plant System with Provisions to Simulate Full Scale Conditions
Earl Jenson, Alex Hayes, Steve Mervin, Sylvanus Ekwe, InnoTech Alberta
8.8 Specific activity-, toxicity- and supplementing test (ATS) for the optimization of the facility management of biogas plants
Mathias Hartel, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture
8.9 Determination of the residual gas/residual methane potential
Hans Oechsner, State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim
8.10 Gravimetric measurement of BMP
Sasha D. Hafner, Aarhus University; Brian K. Richards, Cornell University, Ithaca, Sergi Astals, University of Barcelona
8.11 Kinetic modelling of anaerobic batch tests
Sören Weinrich, DBFZ; Sergi Astals, University of Queensland; Sasha D. Hafner, Aarhus University; Konrad Koch, Technical University of Munich
9 Calculation and assessment methods
9.1 SWOT analysis
Christof Heußner, Oliver Kugelstadt, Tobias Bahr, Klaus Fricke, TU Braunschweig
9.2 Calculation of plant/process indexes (optimisation potential of individual process steps)
Christof Heußner, Oliver Kugelstadt, Tobias Bahr, Klaus Fricke, TU Braunschweig
9.3 Determination of the effect of organic fertilisers on the humus supply of soils
Doreen Zirkler and Peter Dominik, TU Berlin
9.4 Mass balancing of biogas plants
Sören Weinrich, Jürgen Pröter, Josephine Hofmann, DBFZ; Jürgen Kube, Future Biogas Ltd
9.5 Load detection and process control using gas analysis and fuzzy logic
Ernst Murnleitner, Michael Landa, Awite Bioenergie GmbH
10 Innovative test equipment and instruments
10.1 Measurement of H2 (dissolved – gaseous)
Jens Zosel, KSI
10.2 In-situ investigation of multiple physico-chemical parameters in the liquid phase of digesters with mobile sensor devices
Anika Bockisch, Stefan Junne, Peter Neubauer, TU Berlin
10.3 Determination of methane potential of organic biomass using Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS II)
Jing Liu, Mihaela Nistor, Sten Strömberg, Bioprocess Control Sweden AB
10.4 Determination of carbon compounds (methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in biogas and biomethane using non-dispersive infrared spectrometry (NDIR)
Michael Landa, Christian Etzkorn, Ernst Murnleitner, Awite Bioenergie GmbH
10.5 Substrate suitability assessment for anaerobic dry digestion processes – Method to determine substrate material permeability under compaction
Harald Wedwitschka, Daniela Gallegos, Jan Liebetrau, DBFZ; Earl Jenson, InnoTech Alberta
Table of tables
Table of illustrations
Table of literature
Publication Collection of Methods for Biogas in Chinese
The Collection of Methods for Biogas was translated into Chinese (based on the German version form 2016) and presented at the China Biogas Society Annual Meeting in November 2019. Approximately 400 participants took part in this conference, including many top experts from research and biogas plant operators in China. The collection was so popular that the print edition was almost completely out of print.
The methodological knowledge of the Chinese edition is intended to support the standardised application and comparability of results in the biogas sector in the Chinese-speaking world as well. It thus offers a valuable basis for dissemination in research, teaching and export activities of German biogas companies in China.
