Analytical variability of biomass solids compositional analysis

Biomass solids compositional analysis is the starting point for developing viable biomass to biofuels processes. This data is used to determine the theoretical process efficiency and to calculate process yields. The analytical variability of the feedstock components (glucan, xylan, lignin and others) is part of the overall biofuels process variability and this data can be used to determine the analytical contribution. Many other process factors also contribute such as feedstock moisture, flow rates, residence time distribution changes within reactors and sampling of heterogeneous material for analysis. Here we report compositional results and variability of NIST bagasse control samples analyzed at NREL between 2008 and 2014. We break down the compositional data to understand the effects of analyst, equipment or other factors that affect feedstock analytical results.