Analytical laboratory

The chemical laboratory of the State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy

In the chemical laboratory of the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, extensive chemical analyses are continuously carried out as part of a wide variety of projects. Modern laboratory equipment such as a gas chromatograph (GC), a high-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC), a high-performance analyzer for the simultaneous analysis of total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (TIC) and total nitrogen (TN) in aqueous samples plus the TC content in solid samples, a decomposition and distillation system for the determination of total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen in both aqueous and solid samples using the Kjeldahl method are used. In addition, the laboratory equipment is continuously being expanded and new methods for the chemical analysis of various parameters such as volatile fatty acids, sugars, alcohols, macro- and micronutrients, heavy metals, etc. are being (further) developed simultaneously. The most recent new development is the development of various methods for determining relevant chemical elements that are important for understanding and assessing the supply of nutrients and trace elements in various fermentation processes. In the meantime, the concentration of most of the elements of interest to the work of the state institute, e.g: Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) can be determined from liquid and solid samples. Depending on the problem, it is also possible to analyze only the heavy metal content of samples, e.g. lead and cadmium. All analysis results lead to a better understanding of process-biological fermentation procedures in ensiling processes, for the optimization of biogas production and/or for the biological production of platform chemicals within the framework of various projects. The following table provides an overview of selected analyses.