About Celignis USA

Celignis is a dedicated service provider for the bioeconomy. We provide our clients with the most precise compositional data and highly-informed process expertise in order to allow them to make the best use of their biomass feedstocks and optimise their biomass conversion processes.

Celignis USA is the latest development in the expansion of the Celignis family. We have premises in Iowa that will provide Celignis's trusted and valued services to clients in the US. As an affiliate of Celignis Ltd, which has been successfully providing services to a global network of clients since 2014, Celignis USA is able to leverage the breadth and depth of Celignis's expertise in the bioeconomy.

By focusing our analytical and bioprocessing services on the bioeconomy, specifically the valorisation of biomass, we are able to provide direct answers and solutions to stakeholders looking to develop more sustainable sources of energy, fuels, and materials. Also, our wide-ranging scientific and business expertise ensure that economics and cost-effectiveness are key considerations, alongside suistainability, in developing biobased solutions.

We have over 170 analysis packages, covering over 400 analytes. Our analytical methods have been developed and validated by PhD-level scientists and are tracked and quality-controlled with Celignis's advanced in-house LIMS (laboratory information management system) software.

The Celignis family has analysed over 50,000 samples to date, covering crops, agricultural residues, wastes, and the products, residues, and side-streams of many different bioprocesses. We take great pride in the accuracy and precision of our work and the scientific background of our team means that we are able to critically-evaluate analytical data and use our reports as a basis to help our clients assess the best approaches to reach their goals.

We have also worked, in collaboration with our clients, on the development of bespoke bioanalysis methods customised to their requirements.

Get more info...Analysis Services

We develop and refine processes to efficiently valorise biomass. We can work on individual stages of a process, or develop a bespoke vertically-integrated technology based on your feedstock or desired end-product. This can be done at lab-scale up to the 1000 litre level. Our in-depth understanding of biomass chemistry, our extensive array of bioprocessing equipment, and the biological, engineering, and commercial experience of our team, all play key roles in ensuring that our projects are well-designed and focused on our clients' end-goals.

Examples of bioprocesses that the Celignis family have undertaken to date include: optimisation of pre-treatment, enzymatic-hydrolysis, and fermentation for a biorefinery targeting bioethanol from palm residues; optimisation of hydrolysis conditions targeting oligomers of specified chain lengths; fermentation of waste-derived sugars to glycerol and organic acids; and sustainable approaches for the extraction of high-purity pectin from unconvential feedstocks.

Get more info...Bioprocess Services

A key motivation in establishing Celignis facilities in the US was the rapid national expansion of the anaerobic digestion (AD) sector for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production. Over the years Celignis has built a strong reputation, not only as a high-quality lab for the provision of analytical data to biogas stakeholders, but also as a centre of biological and technical expertise in the AD sector. Our diverse team of PhD-level scientists understand the complex interactions between feedstock chemistry, microbiology, and mechanical engineering that all need to work in harmony in order for successful RNG projects to be developed.

In previous years Celignis (Ireland) had several US clients from the biogas sector that expressed frustrations with the absence of any US-based lab with this kind of wide-ranging expertise. They wished to pursue more significant projects with Celignis but the volatile nature of many AD feedstocks meant that overseas shipments were not possible. We are delighted that the launch of Celignis USA will now allow us to provide our valued services to RNG stakeholders across the country.

Get more info...RNG Services

Since the early 2000s the USA has seen a rapid expansion in biofuel production. While most is sourced from corn, most future biofuel facilities will process cellulosic feedstocks (e.g. wood, grass, agricultural residues etc.). There are major financial supports (e.g. D3 RINs) for such facilities, oftentimes dependent on the cellulosic proportion of the feedstock. The Celignis family has analysed tens of thousands of samples for their lignocellulosic composition, using methods approved by the US EPA. Our reports provide in-depth compositional data as well as important summaries (e.g. adjusted cellulose content) required under the RFS.

We have provided services to many US start-ups and multinationals looking to develop technologies to valorise lignocellulose, with an array of analysis and bioprocess development services focused on understanding pre-treatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation processes. We also recognise the potential for higher-value (non-biofuel) products from biomass and have helped clients to understand the most profitable valorisation approach for a given feedstock or technology.

Get more info...Cellulosic Fuels

There is a huge buzz, all across the US, about the role that biochar can play in the development of a more sustainable economy. Potential applications include soil-amendment, carbon sequestration, waste reduction, biomaterials, and energy production. However, many factors need to be considered in order for the biochar approach to be succesful. These include the characteristics of the feedstock, the conditions of the pyrolysis process, and the properties of the resulting biochar.

The Celignis team has extensive experience in the analysis of biochar and in the evaluation and testing of its potential applications. For clients that are considering pyrolysis as a means to valorise their feedstocks or residues, we are able to screen their samples for suitability and produce lab-scale quantities of biochar for further analysis and application testing. For producers of biochar, we have over 30 different packages to evaluate their samples and test the suitability for various applications (e.g. plant-growth trials).

Get more info...Biochar Services

There has recently been a surge of interest in seaweed as a sustainable feedstock for food, feed, fuels, chemicals and biomaterials. However, since seaweed composition differs greatly from terrestial biomass, analytical methods should be customised according to its consituents and the complex matrices of the samples. Celignis has worked extensively on this since 2020, with several in-house methods developed plus collaborations in international round-robin testing campaigns.

We currently offer over 20 analysis packages focused on seaweed. These cover a diverse array of constituents, including carbohydrates, amino acids, pigments, phytohormones, vitamins, phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, bromoform, phlorotannins, and detailed characterisations of seaweed polysaccharides, including molecular weight analysis.

Celignis has also worked with clients on bioprocess projects for seaweed valorisation in different applications, including biomaterials.

Get more info...Seaweed at Celignis

Celignis USA's directors (Lalitha and Dan) have, through Celignis Ltd (Ireland), been involved in over 20 publicly-funded research projects worth over 4m EUR to Celignis. Many of these projects have been large multinational collaborations funded by the European Union, involving multiple research partners. Click here to read about the ongoing EU projects and here for the completed projects.

Celignis USA is eager to collaborate in the advancement of the US bioeconomy. We are SAM.gov registered and eligible for full participation in funded projects looking to advance the state-of-the-art in biomass valorization. We can provide contributions in several domains (e.g. cellulosic fuels, seaweed utilisation, biochar, RNG sector) as either a parner focused on analytical or bioprocess development aspects. We can also be involved in the preparation of scientific articles for such projects (click here to see a list of over 50 publications by members of the Celignis family) as well as in the development of proposals for funding.

Get more info...Research Collaborations

Our slogan, "With Accurate Data the Opportunities are Limitless", reflects the modern age, where data is a powerful resource. We recognise that data is of greatest value when results are presented in a detailed, accessible, manner so that the impactful decisions can be made in a rapid timeframe. This is why the Celignis Database is so popular with our clients. It allows for orders to be placed and monitored and for results to be viewed through a user-friendly online interface. We upload results as obtained meaning that you do not have to wait for an order to be completed to get valuable data. In the case of our biomethane-potential (BMP) tests for the RNG sector, we update our biogas plots daily allowing you to fully monitor the process and make early decisions.

In addition to our online reporting, we provide comprehensive pdf and Excel reports, with results in duplicate for most analyses. For our BMP tests we report in triplicate and provide personally-written interpretations of the data, leveraging the extensive biological expertise of our team.

Get more info...Celignis Database

For the first few years Celignis was located in an incubation centre at the University of Limerick. During that period the company expanded it's portfolio of analytical services beyond only the lignocellulosic biorefining sector to also cover other important sectors of the bioeconomy including: anaerobic digestion, combustion, seaweed, fermentation, and the application of enzymes.

Such an expansion in Celignis's capabilities was possible as a result of the diverse array of talent brought into the company.

Celignis continued to grow its client base, which, as of October 2025, spans over 1000 organisations and includes start-ups, multinationals, and world-leading universities. They recognised the expertise that Celignis had with regards to biomass composition and its relevance in designing and optimising biomass conversion processes. Over time Celignis grew to be recognised as the premier analytical provider for the bioeconomy. Celignis also got involved in a number of high-level research projects, focused on advancing the state of the art in biomass valorisation, many of these being funded by the Biomass Based Industries Joint Undertaking.

In 2022 Celignis moved into an additional premises, Celignis Bioprocess, located nearby in Limerick, Ireland. This facility doubled the company's available lab-space, which was quickly occupied with a wide array of bioprocessing equipment covering all aspects of biomass conversion (extraction, pretreatment, hydrolysis, chemical/catalytic conversion, downstream processing, and product recovery) at lab-scale and pilot-scale levels. This massive expansion in capabilities allowed Celignis to develop Celignis Bioprocess as a comprehensive solution for clients looking to develop a new bioprocess or optimise an existing one. Click below to go to the Celignis Bioprocess Hub.

Get more info...Bioprocess Development Services

October 2025 marked the launch of Celignis USA. We have the exclusive rights to provide Celignis-branded services to clients throughout the US. Our 10,000 square foot facility is located in Waterloo, Iowa, in the heart of the Midwest.

We are looking forward to the closer relationships with Celignis's existing US clients allowed by a national presence in addition to the many new collaborations we will build over the years. So feel free to contact us by email or phone (319-509-3350) and let's work together on developing a vibrant bioeconomy in America!

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

We are driven to provide the best possible data and want to play our part in the development of the bioeconomy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our analytical methods and data. These have been in development for over 15 years and are now highly refined for the detailed characterisation of biomass samples and the products of biomass conversion.

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.

We believe there is no such thing as a "waste", just wasted opportunities. Our multidsciplinary team has the expertise to develop strategies to sustainably valorise a wide range of biomass feedstocks.

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 that are not currently listed on our website then please get in touch with us and we can consider how best to meet your needs.

There are several subsections of the Celignis website that go into much more detail regarding our services for that particular sector. These Info Hubs are detailed below.

Celignis Bioprocess Hub

This website describes our wide range of bioprocess development servivces, which cover all stages of biomass conversion (e.g. extraction, pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, downstream processing) and can be undertaken at technology readiness levels (TRLs) ranging from lab-scale (TRL 3/4) to the pilot-scale (TRL6).

Get more info...Celignis Bioprocess Hub

Renewable Natural Gas Hub

The RNG Hub details our activities and services for clients in the anaerobic digestion sector. There are pages on: feedstock analysis, biomethane potential, digestate analysis, toxicity assays, process optimisations, biological consultations, and continuous digestions.

Get more info...Celignis AD Hub

Biochar Hub

This website covers our analyses and project development services for biochar. There are pages on: feedstock evaluation, biochar production, biochar analysis (physical, chemical, and thermal), biochar upgrading, application tests (e.g. for soil amendment and carbon sequestration), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and technoeconomic analysis.

Get more info...Celignis Biochar Hub

Seaweed Hub

We are able to fully characterise brown, green, and red seaweeds for many different constituents, including: amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, pigments, and fatty acids.

Get more info...Celignis Seaweed Hub