Element supports engine manufacturers and pipeline engineers with siloxane sampling and analysis services to accurately evaluate the levels of siloxanes and prevent damage to engine parts and pipe systems. 

Siloxane in biogas 

Siloxanes are a class of organic chemicals present in many consumer and industrial products. When combusted, the presence of siloxanes in biogas fuels, landfill gas, and wastewater gas can become a problem, as they are formed into silica (sand). 

 

The benefits of siloxane monitoring 

Siloxane particles can be highly damaging to moving parts of engines and pipelines – leading to dramatically decreased servicing intervals and increased running costs. Many sites use activated carbon filters or regenerative filters for siloxane removal to prevent damage or downtime. However, siloxane testing remains crucial to determine the efficiency of these filtering systems.

 

Siloxane analysis 

Our experts can accurately evaluate the levels of siloxanes within your gas using sorbent tubes and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) at our laboratories in Stockport and Deeside. We use the results of this analysis to:

  • Assess the efficiency of any abatement system, or 
  • Establish whether it would be cost-effective to install a clean-up system.

 

Siloxane filters

By quantifying the degradation of your siloxane filter system, you can decide when replacement or servicing is required. This means you only action changes when necessary – ensuring optimal timeframes of operation, avoiding early replacement of systems that are still effective, and removing inefficient filters before damage is caused to your equipment and unscheduled downtime halts your operations.

 

The Element advantage

Our testing laboratories are accredited to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 to ensure our clients have complete confidence in accurate and reliable test results. Offering a fully UKAS accredited sampling and analysis service, Element’s environmental laboratories in the UK can support customers to evaluate the levels of siloxane in biogas. 

To learn more about our siloxane monitoring services or speak to one of our experts, contact us today. 

Our team of over 9,000 Engaged Experts in North America, Europe, The Middle East, Australia, Asia and Africa are ready to help you.