Biomass and feedstocks can be characterized in several ways, including in terms of inherent physical and chemical properties, such as bulk density and moisture content, and in terms of origin and type. For the latter, it is important, in order to assess several environmental and socioeconomic issues, whether the biomass is primary, secondary, or tertiary.
When the selected biomass resources have been identified, it is relevant to clarify their characteristics. Identifying the chemical and physical properties of the selected biomass resource is essential for assessing the energy output when applying different technologies and estimating the associated investment and O&M costs.
The characterization of the biomass feedstock includes its chemical and physical properties (for example, trading form, calorific value, biogas potential, bulk density, ash content, and moisture content). Comparator Chart for Biomass and Feedstock Analysis Data Table 3 describes and presents these properties for each feedstock.
