Waste Derived Fuels
Sample Preparation
SOP: 3000
In-house method based on EN 15443:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Methods for the preparation of the laboratory sample. Particle size reduction of the dried sample is undertaken using a cutting mill followed by homogenisation.
Ash Content
SOP: 3010
UKAS accredited
Ash at 550°C
In-house method based on EN 15403:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Determination of ash content. The proportion by mass of sample that remains following ignition at 550°C for 4 hours in a muffle furnace.
Sulphur, Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine
SOP: 3020
Sulphur, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine
In-house method based on EN 15408:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Methods for the determination of sulphur (S), chlorine (Cl), fluorine (F) and bromine (Br) content. Halogenated and sulphur compounds are converted to halides and sulphate in the combustion bomb used for the determination of calorific value. The absorption liquid from the bomb is analysed for sulphate, fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide.
Fixed Carbon
SOP: 3030
Calculation using ash and volatile matter results.
Oxygen by Difference
SOP: 3040
Calculation using ash and elemental analysis results.
Volatile Matter
SOP: 3050
Volatile matter
In-house method based on EN 15402:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Determination of the content of the volatile matter. The proportion by mass of sample that is lost following heating at 950°C for 7 minutes in an oxygen free atmosphere.
Biomass by Dissolution
SOP: 3070
Biomass
In-house method based on EN 15440:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Methods for the determination of biomass content. Selective dissolution method; biomass is selectively broken down with sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide.
CHN Elemental Analysis
SOP: 3080
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen
In-house method based on EN 15407:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Methods for the determination of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N) content. High temperature combustion under oxygen, using an elemental analyser. Resultant nitrogen gas is measured by thermal conductivity detector. Carbon and hydrogen detected by infra-red.
Bulk Density
SOP: 3090
Bulk density
In-house method based on EN 15401:2010 Solid Recovered Fuels – Determination of bulk density. A weighed cylindrical container having a known volume is filled by shock exposure with a test portion of the sample in accordance with the standard and then re-weighed from which the density is calculated.
Particle Size Distribution
SOP: 3100
Particle size distribution
In-house method based on EN 15415-1:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Determination of particle size distribution – Part 1: Screen method for small dimension particles. Samples greater than 100mm are manually sorted. Particles less than 100mm are sieved using round holed plate sieves. The percentage by weight of each fraction is recorded.
Moisture Content
SOP: 3130
Moisture content
In-house method based on CEN/TS 15414-2:2010 Solid Recovered Fuels – Determination of moisture content using the oven dry method Part 2: Determination of moisture content by a simplified method. A representative portion of the sample is dried in an oven at 105°C to constant mass such that the change in mass following a subsequent heating period does not exceed 0.2%.
Gross Calorific Value (Higher Heating Value) & Net Calorific Value (Lower Heating Value)
SOP: 3140
UKAS accredited
Gross and Net Calorific Value.
In-house method based on EN 15400:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Determination of calorific value. Gross calorific value is determined in an automated i
SOPeribol bomb calorimeter calibrated with certified benzoic acid. Net calorific value is determined by calculation following the determination of gross calorific value together with the hydrogen content in accordance with EN 15407:2011.
Determination of Trace Elements
SOP: 3450
Including arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, mercury, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, thallium, vanadium, zinc
In-house method based on EN 15410:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Methods for the determination of trace elements (As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, V and Zn). Samples are digested under pressure in closed microwave digestion vessels and the digest is subsequently analysed by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Major Elements
SOP: 3455
Including aluminium, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, silicon, titanium.
In-house method based on EN 15410:2011 Solid Recovered Fuels – Methods for the determination of major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Si and Ti). Samples are digested under pressure in closed microwave digestion vessels and the digest is subsequently analysed by inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
