Experts in feedstock quality control and process Optimization in biogas production

In this issue of the Indian Biogas Association magazine, we speak to Dr. Jing Liu, CEO of BPC Instruments from Sweden, about his team’s work in the realm of biogas for feedstock quality control and process optimization.

BPC Instruments, which used to be called Bioprocess Control, and was started in 2006, and has quickly become the market leader in providing precise instruments to customers in the biogas and environmental biotechnology fields. Over the past 18 years, BPC Instruments has invested in the innovation and development of analytical instruments for both biogas research and commercial full-scale production units. Dr. Jing Liu, the CEO and Co-founder of BPC instruments, states the company has become a pioneer in its field and currently holds an estimated 90 percent share of the global market for feedstock quality analysis in biogas production.

IBA: It’s impressive to see the global reach and impact of BPC Instruments in the biogas sector. With clients in 69 countries and over a thousand organizations in both the academic and industrial sectors, BPC Instruments seems to have a strong presence in the market. It’s also noteworthy that there are more than 1000 scientific publication references of experimental studies conducted using your analytical instruments, as given in a statistical analysis of the scientific database www. sciencedirect.com. This is a testament to the scientific community’s recognition of the quality and reliability of their instruments. How do you see the importance of your work?

BPC instruments: In the most recent year, the need to scale up biogas and biomethane production is more urgent than ever, following the need to reduce dependency on natural gas imports and address high energy prices, while simultaneously addressing the climate crisis. In order to meet the increasing demand for biogas production, a significant effort is required to identify and collect suitable feedstock to feed more biogas production installations in the coming years. In the past, fermentation tests for feedstock quality control and process optimization had proven problematic, providing highly variable, unreliable results, but BPC’s precision instruments have changed this, providing robust, dependable results that are measured, calculated, and presented in a standardised form. Significant data improvement enables businesses to work more efficiently and make better evidence-based decisions.

As Dr. Liu explains, “For biogas plants, feedstock quality control and analysis are critically important for ensuring stable and efficient biogas production. AMPTS® (Automatic Methane Potential Test System) is currently the top choice of industrial biogas plants, service providers, research institutes, and universities worldwide for optimizing biogas production processes and ensuring stable and efficient plant operation by selecting and controlling the quality of receiving biomass feedstock.”

By using AMPTS®, users can perform frequent and accurate analyses, including biochemical methane potential (BMP), biogas potential, specific methanogenic activity (SMA), and residual gas potential (RGP), with significantly reduced workload. With this tool, users can evaluate feedstock's true energy potential and biodegradation, and a deeper understanding of the biological behaviour of biogas production processes – allowing for a scientific and evidence-based decision for more efficient plant operations.

AMPTS® is a user-friendly system which allows for remote access, so the highly accurate data is at hand whenever it is needed, while the standardised measurement procedures, data interpretation, and reports provide meaningful data which is easily comparable and upon which sound business decisions can be made.

In addition, BPC’s involve- ment in Task Force 3 ("Sustainable potentials for innovative biomass sources") of the European Biomethane Industrial Partnership (BIP) is a testament to their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the European biogas industry. By exploring the potential of innovative biomass sources for biogas/ biomethane production and promoting circular agriculture through the utilization of digestate as biogenic fertilizer, BPC is making a valuable contribution towards a more sustainable future.

Biogas and biomethane have the potential to become significant sources of renewable energy in the future, particularly in countries like India with abundant biomass resources and a high demand for clean energy for economic growth with little or no negative impact on the environment. Dr. Liu highlights the importance and increasing demand for feedstock analysis and process optimization for stable and cost-efficient biogas production, where advanced analytical instruments like AMPTS® can play a crucial role.

Speaking of the service BPC provides for its customers, Dr. Liu observes: "We provide more than analytical tools; we transfer know-how too, and with the value we add through our expertise and process-related analysis, we can play a critical role in planning and operating biogas plants with stability and efficiency."

"Our technical products are underpinned by our expert team, who are friendly, approachable, and have a genuine desire to help. Their and direct involvement with the products mean they can always address customers’ inquiries; their commitment and expertise go far beyond a typical business exchange."

"BPC Instruments has an international team that is committed to delivering quality products and services. Our team provides technical support covering product enquiries, questions, maintenance, and product applications."

"It is our ambition to make sure that the instruments can be your tools for more effi- cient, reliable, and high-quality analysis, leading to significant reductions in time and labour and more efficient utilization of manpower resources. India biogas industry is in the beginning of an exciting expansion phase." said Dr. Liu.

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