Company

The main focus of Celignis is on the analysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Such feedstocks are mostly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Lignocellulosic biomass, depending on its composition, can be used for the production of second generation biofuels and platform chemicals (in biorefineries) and for the production of heat and power.

Our analytical services are of value in a wide variety of sectors, including:

Biorefining Companies:   Whether you have an existing biorefinery or are developing a technology for the conversion of biomass, the properties of the biomass feedstock are of key importance in determining process yields and economics. Celignis personnel have extensive experience, over the last decade, in the detailed and precise characterisation of biomass samples. These data will be key in deciding which feedstocks to process or how to modify your technology so that it is optimised for your chosen feedstock. We also are able to characterise the liquid outputs of biomass pre-treatment, hydrolysis and other conversion technologies and have a set of recommended analysis packages that will help you to get the most detailed data about the whole conversion process. Producers of First Generation Biofuels:   First generation biofuels can be classifed as those that are sourced from food or oil crops. Many of the first generation biofuels produce significant quantities of lignocellulosic residues. These include straw from the production of wheat-derived ethanol and rapeseed-derived biodiesel, and bagasse from the production of ethanol from sugarcane. Celignis can accurately characterise these residues and provide vital compositional data to help you decide how to get the most value from them. Biomass Combustion Facilities:   At Celignis we offer a number of analysis methods for properties most relevant to the thermal conversion (e.g. combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification) of biomass. These include the elemental composition of the sample (the contents of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur) as well as ash and moisture contents. Waste Producers and Handlers:   Significant quantities of biodegradable waste (such as the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, and waste papers/cardboards) are produced by households and industry. Many governments have targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste that is sent to landfill. Our analysis packages can help producers and handlers of organic waste determine the best end use for this resource. Accurate compositional analysis is particularly important for waste biomass since its composition can vary substantially dependng on local conditions and the time of year. Farmers and Biomass Traders:   Individuals and organisations that are growing or trading biomass feedstocks for the production of biofuels, chemicals, or energy have vital need for accurate compositional data on their resources. Celignis can provide such data in a rapid turnaround and has experience in the analysis of a wide range of biomass types. Scientific Researchers:   At Celignis we have access to an array of state of the art analytical equipment and our personnel have also carefully refined our analysis methods over the last 10 years to ensure that our data are as accurate and precise as possible. There is huge scientific interest in the utilisation of biomass but many research groups may not have the capability to characterise samples to the same level of quality as Celignis. Our services are therefore of great value in providing the best analytical data to biomass researchers.

Location

Celignis Limited is located on Holland Road, in Plassey Techbnology Park, close to the campus of the University of Limerick.



Limerick is a city located in the west of Ireland. At Celignis we are able to receive samples sent from anywhere in the world and we are suitably sized to provide analytical data in a rapid turnaround.

We have anlaysed samples from many countries (including the USA, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia) and these samples have NO DELAY IN CUSTOMS. Celignis has a standard cover letter and packing list that we ask customers to include with their samples to allow for such a rapid delivery. For example, we have received samples from the USA within 3 days from the package being sent.

Please contact us to obtain the cover letter and packing list template.

The scenic Cliffs of Moher, located on the Atlantic coast, close to Celignis.

Ethos

During his time as a PhD and post-doctoral researcher in the biomass sector, Celignis founder Dr Daniel Hayes found that feedstock composition was crucial, but that literature data could be highly misleading. There was a critical need for accurate analysis. This led to the formation of Celignis.

We are driven to provide the best possible data and want to play our part in the development of the bioeconomy.

We believe that with accurate and comprehensive data the opportunities are limitless

We pride ourselves on the quality of our analytical methods and data. These have been in development for over 10 years and are now highly refined for the detailed characterisation of biomass samples.

We offer a number of unique services, including the abiity to offer low-cost near infrared predictions of the lignocellulosic composition of samples, and the rapid turnaround of one day for the provision of these near infrared data.

We are also constantly working on ways to further improve our service and to expand the range of biomass properties that we can determine. If you have interests in biomass analysis that are not currently represented in our analysis packages then please get in touch with us and we can consider adding to our protocols to meet your needs.

History

Celignis is a recently-formed spin-out company from the Carbolea Biomass Research Group at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Celignis was formed as a result of the signifciant progress made by Carbolea in a collaborative research project, entitled DIBANET, that was funded by the European Union's 7th Framework Programme.

That progress included the development of highly accurate and precise wet-chemical protocols for the analysis of biomass as well as unique near infrared models that could allow for properties relevant to the production of second-generation biofuels to be predicted much more rapidly. It has been estimated that over 20 person-years of work have been involved in the development of these models.

The name "Celignis" is derived from combining the words "Cellulose", "Lignin", and "Ignis" (Latin for fire). We believe that biomass can play an important role in the production of fuels, chemicals and energy in the future and will help to lessen our reliance on the use of fossil fuels in these sectors. The Celignis logo reflects the main constituents of lignocellulosic biomass: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

Celignis Limited was founded and is managed by Dr Daniel Hayes, a graduate from Carbolea with a PhD in the analysis of biomass. Click here for further information on Daniel Hayes.

Biomass Research

We are a spin-out from an EU funded FP7 research project. Currently we are active in a Biomass Based Industries (BBI) Horizon 2020 project and we are examining future calls to further advance the state-of-the-art in biomass analysis.

Click here to read more about our activities in biomass research.