Celignis Analytical is currently focused on analysing biomass samples for properties relevant for the production of heat and energy or for their conversion to biofuels and chemicals. The conversion of biomass to chemicals/fuels can be termed "biorefining", since it is analagous to oil refining in that different products are obtained from the different chemical constituents of the biomass.

Biofuels can be classified as "first-generation" and "second-generation" according to the type of biomass they are made from. First generation biofuels are produced from food/oil-based plants and wastes. For example, first generation ethanol is produced from the starch present in crops such as wheat or from the sucrose present in crops such as sugarbeet and sugarcane. First generation biodiesel is produced from plants/wastes containing fats/oils, e.g. rapeseed oil.

Second-generation biofuels are produced from the conversion of lignocellulosic materials, biomass that predominately contains cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin (see here for a more detailed description of lignocellulose chemistry).

Celignis Analytical will initally focus on the analysis of lignocellulosic biomass and will not provide services for the analysis of first generation biofuel feedstocks (e.g. analysis of triglyceride content) or for the analysis of the biofuels (e.g. ethanol) themselves, however such services are likely to be included over time. If you have a query regarding the analytical services currently offered, or would like to suggest additional ones, please get in touch.

Click here for more detailed information about the different types of technologies that can be used for producing second generation biofuels and here for information on the Celignis analysis packages that can be used to determine the important compositional parameters for these.