Analytical Methods
The EBC and it's accredited partner labs work continuously to improve the performance, reliability, and comparability of biochar analysis. All accredited labs participate in annual ring trials organized by DCC Delta Coal Control GmbH.
Basic Package
Sample preparation (DIN 51701-3):
After homogenization, the sample is divided representatively into portions. This subsampling is done by quartering (quarter method) of the homogenized sample. Approximately 100 g of the original sample are used for the determination of the conductivity, the salt content and pH.
A portion of the sample is dried at 40 ° C and is divided into some subsamples after drying and homogenization. Approximately 250 g of the 40 ° C dried and uncrushed sample is used to determine the true density and the BET surface of the material. Approximately 50 g of the 40 ° C dried sample is finely ground in a vibratory mill. After homogenization the fine material is subsampled for further analysis (i.e., PAH, TGA, ash, CHN, S, trace and major elements). Unless otherwise specified, the particle size of the analytical samples is specified by the respective methods and standards.
Bulk density of samples ground to < 0.3 mm (analogue VDLUFA-Method A 13.2.1):
To calculate bulk density a dried, water-free sample of at least 300 ml is poured into a graduated cylinder and the mass is determined by weighting. The volume of the sample is read after 10 times compression by means of falling. The bulk density (on dry matter base) in kg / m³ is calculated from the mass and the volume of the sample.
Bulk density of the unground sample as delivered (DIN EN ISO 17828):
Only for particle sizes between 0.3 mm and 30 mm. The sample is analyzed as delivered, not dried, not milled.
NOTE: The bulk density of freshly produced biochar is subject to fluctuations due to several factors, such as vibrations, shocks, pressure, drying, and humidification. The measured bulk density may, therefore, have been altered by transport, storage, or handling.
Electrical conductivity (salt content) - Method of the BGK (Federal Quality Association Compost), volume 1, method III. C2 – in analogy to DIN ISO 11265:
Adding 20 g of the sample to 200 ml desalinated water and shaking it for 1 hour, followed by filtration of the solution. The conductivity is then measured using the filtrated water. The correction of temperature is automatically done in the measuring device. The electrical conductivity is given for a solution at 25°C. The salt content is calculated using the factor 52,8 [mg KCl/l]/[10-4/cm] and is given in mg KCl/l. This is based on the conductivity (14,12 * 10-4 S/cm) of a 0,01 molar KCl solution.
pH-value DIN ISO 10390 (CaCl2):
A minimum of 5 ml of the air-dried sample is placed in a glass vessel. Five times the volume (25 ml) of a 0.01 M CaCl2 solution is added. The suspension is overhead rotated for 1 h. The suspension obtained is directly measured with a pH meter.
Water content according to DIN 51718:
Method A / two-step method (Reference method for coal)
Raw moisture
The sample (100 to 1000 g) is spread evenly in a drying bowl crucible, weighed with 0,1 g accuracy and dried in an oven at (40 ± 2) ° C until the mass is constant. If necessary, the sample is divided and dried in more than one crucible.
Analysis: raw moisture (FG) in%
FG = raw moisture in %
mE = mass of the sample before drying in g
mR = mass of the sample after drying in g
Hygroscopic moisture
Hygroscopic moisture is the moisture held firmly within the pore structure of biochar. Measuring hygroscopic moisture will lead to an understanding of a particular biochar's ability to hold and release moisture.
A subsample of the air-dried and crushed (grain size < 1 mm) sample is weighed immediately after the subsampling into a TGA crucible and is dried in a nitrogen atmosphere at (106 ± 2) ° C to constant mass.
Evaluation: hygroscopic moisture (FH) in %
FH = hygroscopic moisture in %
mE = mass of the sample before drying in g
mR = mass of the sample after drying in g
Water content
Evaluation: water content (Wt) in %
Wt = water content in %
FG = raw moisture in %
FH = hygroscopic moisture in %
Ash content (550 °C) analogue DIN 51719:
To determine the ash content in biochar two programs of the TGA (30 or 60 min) could be used. The weight determination of the crucible is carried out automatically. Enter the sample number for corresponding crucible position. Add 1,0 g of the sample to the ceramic crucible and spread the substance evenly in the crucible. Weighing is done automatically relative to the crucible position.
Runs the following heating program in the oven:
- heating with a rate of 5 K / min to 106 ° C under a nitrogen atmosphere to constant mass (m <0,05%).
- temperature increase with 5 K / min to 550 ° C under oxygen atmosphere,
- hold this temperature for 30 or 60 min to constant mass (m <0,05%).
The ash content is automatically determined and calculated for the sample used.
Carbonate CO2 analogue DIN 51726:
1 g of pre-dried and ground sample is weighed to 0.2 mg and placed in the decomposition flask. The device consists of an absorption tower, which purges the air of carbon dioxide, the decomposition flask with an attachment to add the decomposition acid and three connected washing bottles. The carbon dioxide freed air is sucked through the system. After the system is purged and the washing bottles are filled with an absorbing solution of BaCl2 and NaOH solution, 30 ml decomposition acid (hydrochloric acid with HgCl2 as a catalyst and a wetting agent) are added to the decomposition flask. The content of the decomposition flask is boiled for about 10 minutes. The inert gas flow transports the carbon dioxide produced through the acidic solution in the first wash bottle in the other two wash bottles. In the second wash bottle, the carbon dioxide dissolves under consumption of base and is precipitated as barium carbonate. If something precipitates in the third wash bottle, the measurement must be repeated with a lower initial mass. The consumption of base in the second wash bottle is determined by a pH-titration using hydrochloric acid. The carbonate content of the sample is calculated from the base consumption and is calculated as CO2.
CHN according to DIN 51732:
The use of TruSpec Micro or comparable devices is recommended. The sample is combusted in a stream of pure oxygen. Resulting CO2, H2O and nitrogen oxides are quantified to calculate the elemental composition.
Sulphur according to DIN 51724-3:
The pre-dried and crushed sample is weighed in a ceramic crucible. With the aid of a catalyst layer of V2O5 and at high temperatures (> 1300 ° C) the sulphur is oxidized in an oxygen stream. The resulting SO2 is detected in an Infrared cell and is calculated with the sample mass as total sulphur content.
Oxygen (calculation) according to DIN 51733:
The oxygen content is a parameter derived from calculations. It is assumed that the biochar sample consists essentially of ash, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. If one subtracts the ash, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur content in percent from 100 %, the result will be the oxygen content in percent.
Corg, H/C und O/C (calculation):
Other quantities and ratios can be calculated from the determined data.
Corg is derived from the total carbon content minus the inorganic carbon content (CO2) in the sample. The H content is analysed through CHN-analysis (see above).
PAH analogue to DIN EN 17502:August 2022 (with extraction method 10.2.3: Toluol)
The toluol extraction time of the PAHs contained in biochar must be six hours.
Trace metals after microwave-assisted digestion according to DIN 22022-2, DIN 22022-7, DIN EN ISO 17294-2 / DIN EN 1483:
(Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Hg, Zn, Cr, B, Mn, As, Ag)
The pre-dried and crushed sample is weighed and placed into the reaction vessel of the microwave. 6 ml of nitric acid, 2,0 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 0,4 ml of hydrofluoric acid are added. The reaction vessel is sealed and is placed in the microwave.
Program flow of the microwave pressure digestion:
heating (room temperature to 190 ° C) in 15 min
holding time at 190 ° C for 20 minutes
free cooling
additional only for ICP-OES:
Program flow of the fluoride masking (Boric acid, adding 5 ml of saturated solution):
heating (room temperature to 160 ° C) in 8 minutes
holding time at 160 ° C for 7 minutes
free cooling
After complete cooling, the reaction vessels are opened, and the digestion solution is transferred to in a 50 mL plastic volumetric flask and filled with deionized water.
The diluted solution is measured by ICP-MS (DIN EN ISO 17294-2).
To determine the levels of mercury DIN EN ISO 12846, DIN 22022-4; DIN EN ISO 17294-2, and DIN 22022-7 can be used.
Main elements after melting digestion DIN 51729-11, DIN EN ISO 11885 / DIN EN ISO 17294-2: (P, Mg, Ca, K, Na, Fe, Si, S)
The melting process is performed on the ashes of the biochar. 200 mg of the fine ash are weighed into a platinum crucible and thoroughly mixed with 2 g of lithium metaborate.
The platinum crucible is placed in a digestion oven. The digestion remains at least 15 minutes at 1050 ° C in the oven. The melt is dissolved in hydrochloric acid and filled to 500 ml.
The samples are measured with ICP-OES (DIN EN ISO 11885) or ICP-MS (DIN EN ISO 17294-2).
Declaration of the nutrient content
The content of nitrogen, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium and potassium must be stated in g kg-1 of nitrogen, P2O5, MgO, CaO and K2O, respectively, referring to dry matter of biochar. It is recommended to provide all main elements (for P, Mg, Ca, K additionally) as g kg-1 (element, not oxide) and the results of elemental analysis and calculation (CHNSO, Corg, carbonate) in % of dry matter of biochar.
Water holding capacity (WHC) according to DIN EN ISO 14238, annex A
Water-holding capacity. This can be measured using the method DIN EN ISO 14238, annex A.
The test consists of soaking the 2mm fraction of the material in water for a period of 24 hours. After this, the material should be placed on a dry sand bed for 2 hours for removing free water. The saturated material should then be weighed and then dried at 105°C in a compartment dryer. After drying the material should be weighed again to estimate the water holding capacity.
Electrical conductivity of the pyrogenic solid
To determine the conductivity of the solid biochar, it is first necessary to compress the finely ground biochar under standardized pressure. During this compression process, the electrical resistance is then measured vertically through the test specimen. Based on the measured resistance of the biochar and the geometry of the compacted matter, the specific conductivity can be determined using the formulas described in the EBC-guidelines version 10.1.
For the determination of the conductivity, a device for compressing the biochar, a multimeter with the capability of 4-wire measurement and a measuring construction in which the biochar can be compressed and the electrical resistance can be measured at the same time are required. The measuring construction consists of a pressure flask whose bottom and lid each consist of corresponding copper electrodes. The electrodes used are to be connected to an external multimeter.
In an exemplary setup, for example, a sample chamber volume of 10 cm³ results in a relevant weighing range of 1-2 g of a sample dried at 40 °C and finely ground for analysis. Pressure in the range of 10 - 50 kN must be applied to this test setup using a hydraulic press (e.g., toggle press). When the specified target pressure is reached, the resistance is immediately read on the multimeter and converted using the above formulas. The average conductivity is obtained from the mean value of the solid conductivities under 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kN pressure.
14. Analytical Parameter for EBC-FeedPlus and EBC-Feed
Trace metals As, Pb, Cd, Hg
DIN EN 15763:2010-04
For microwave digestion, 0.1 g to 1 g of the dried, ground and homogenized material is weighed into a plastic cup (PTFE, PFA) or quartz cup. After addition of 65% nitric acid in a ratio of 1+5 (sample+acid) and after addition of 30% hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of 1+2.5 to 1+10 (sample+hydrogen peroxide), digestion is performed at the maximum permissible temperature for the system (usually 190°C). Heating phase: 15 min; holding time: 30 min.
After cooling, transfer quantitatively to a polypropylene vessel with volume marker and fill it to the mark with 0.1 M nitric acid. The measurement is carried out by ICP-MS or ICP-OES. For mercury, cold vapor AAS or atomic fluorescence spectrometry are used.
PCB
DIN EN 16167, DIN EN 16215
PCDD/PCDF/coplanar PCB
DIN EN 16190, DIN EN 16215, Commission Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 (modified by No 2017/771) - HRGC/HRMS method
Fluor
VDLUFA III 17.3.2, VDLUFA VII 2.2.2.1, DIN EN 16279 (ion selective electrode; according to VDLUFA VII 2.2.2.1), BAFU F-7 2017 (DIN 38405-4)
The dried and ground material is ashed and digested with sodium hydroxide. The cooled digestion is dissolved in hydrochloric acid with the addition of a complexing agent (TISAB). A pH value of 5.5 is then adjusted and the fluoride content is determined using an ion-sensitive electrode.
Dry matter
Permitted test methods: dry matter: DIN 51718; VDLUFA III 3.1;
A minimum of 50 g of the sample is taken and crushed as necessary, avoiding changes in moisture content. 5 g of biochar are weighed (±1 mg) and dried at 103°C for 4 h. After loading the oven, the drying time does not start until 103°C has been reached exactly. After cooling in the desiccator, it is weighed back (±1 mg).
Crude ash
Permitted test methods: analog to DIN 51719, VDLUFA III 8.1; HCl-insoluble ash: VDLUFA III 8.2
Approximately 5 g of sample is weighed to the nearest 1 mg into an annealed and tared ashing dish. The dish is placed in a muffle furnace and left at 550°C±5°C until no char particles are visible. After cooling in the desiccator, the sample is weighed back to 1 mg. For difficult samples, ammonium nitrate treatment is carried out according to method VDLUFA 8.1.
15. Additional Parameters
Gross calorific value / net calorific value according to DIN 51900:
To determine the calorific value a bomb calorimeter which fulfills the requirements of the stated standard is used. 0,3 to 0,8 g of pre-dried and ground sample is weighed into a combustion bag, capsule or crucible. The sample is mounted in the combustion bomb with an ignition wire and 10-20 ml of eluent in bottom part of the bomb. The bomb is placed into the calorimeter. The oxygen filling, the ignition and the measurement are done automatically. After combustion the bomb must be checked for signs of incomplete combustion. The gross calorific value is calculated using the calibration and measurement data. With further corrections, the net calorific value is calculated.
Ash content (815 °C) DIN 51719:
The ash content at 815 ° C is determined after determining the ash content at 550 ° C by rising the temperature from 550 ° C with 5 K / min to 815 ° C and holding until constant weight (mass difference ± 0,05%) is reached.
Volatile matter according to DIN 51720:
1,0 g of the pre-dried and ground sample is placed into a crucible (with lid). The sample must form a uniformly thick layer on the bottom of the crucible. The crucible is placed in the oven preheated at 900 ± 5 ° C. After 7 minutes (± 5 sec), the crucible is removed from the oven and reweighed after cooling to room temperature. The volatile matter content is calculated from the mass loss of the sample.
Specific surface area following DIN ISO 9277 (BET) and DIN 66137 (density)
The samples should be dried at 40°C and milled to a particle size < 3.15 mm. Nitrogen is used as the adsorption gas. Degassing temperature and time are set to 150°C and 2 hours. The degassing has to be done under a vacuum. The multipoint BET method should be applied.
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA):
The TGA curve is determined, similar to how the ash content is measured, with the TGA. For this purpose, 1,0 g of pre-dried and ground sample is weighed in the TGA crucible. During the temperature rise from 30 ° C to 950 ° C with 10 K / min, the crucible is weighed at frequent intervals in the TGA furnace. The result is shown graphically.
PCB
VDLUFA VII 3.3.2.2 (DIN-PCB; hot extraction, GC-MS) DIN EN 16167 (use extraction method 2 with Toluol and not with light petroleum), DIN 38414-20 and DIN EN 16215
PCDD/PCDF/coplanar PCB
according to DIN EN 16190:2019-10, DIN EN 16215, Commission
Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 (modified by No 2017/771) HRGC/HRMS method
Chrom(VI)
DIN according to EN 16318: 2016-07
Chromium cannot be oxidized during pyrolysis and is instead reduced during pyrolysis, i.e.,
Cr(VI) is converted into less mobile and dramatically less toxic Cr(III), which is already
regulated as the total Cr content of biochar. Nevertheless, this method is offered to provide
analytical evidence of compliance with the requirements of the EU Fertilizer Product
Regulation, if required.