What is ISO 18134-3- Moisture content in solid biofuels about?
ISO 18134-3 is a safety standard on solid biofuels. ISO 18134-3 describes the method of determining moisture in the analysis test sample by drying in an oven. ISO 18134-3 is intended to be used for general analysis samples in accordance with EN 14780. The method described in ISO 18134-3 is applicable to all solid biofuels.
The moisture content of solid biofuels (as received) is always reported based on the total mass of the test sample (wet basis). Since biofuels in small particle size are very hygroscopic, their moisture content will change with humidity in the atmosphere and therefore, the moisture of the test portion is determined simultaneously with the determination of, for example, calorific value, carbon content, and nitrogen content.
Note: The term moisture content when used with biomass materials can be misleading since untreated biomass frequently contains varying amounts of volatile compounds (extractives) which can evaporate when determining the moisture content by oven drying.
Who is ISO 18134-3- Moisture content in solid biofuels for?
ISO 18134-3 on determining the moisture in the analysis test sample by drying in an oven is relevant to:
- Biodiesel producers
- Product development teams / innovation teams
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use ISO 18134-3 - Moisture content in solid biofuels?
ISO 18134-3 provides you with guidelines on determining the moisture content using the oven-dry method. The test portion of solid biofuel is dried at a temperature of 105 °C in an air atmosphere until the constant mass is achieved and the percentage moisture is calculated from the loss in mass of the test portion.
Automatic equipment such as gravimetric analyzers can be used when the method is validated with biomass reference test samples of selected biomass types. The analysis sample can be dried in an air atmosphere or in a nitrogen atmosphere. If the sample material is susceptible to oxidation (at 105 °C), drying in a nitrogen atmosphere is preferred. ISO 18134-3 is a step towards sustainable living that would ultimately benefit all individuals.