Purpose
The Bioenergy Feedstock Library (BFL) is a physical sample repository and database for metadata (i.e., harvest information, sample details, operational data) and analytical data (i.e.,physical, chemical, conversion performance characteristics) for biomass and waste feedstocks along with conversion intermediates.
The BFL provides tools to store, record, track, retrieve, and analyze data to help researchers and industry overcome challenges posed by biomass variability.
Funding and Support
The BFL is sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The BFL is part of the Biomass Feedstock National User Facility located and operated at Idaho National Laboratory, and is maintained by a team of technical staff members.
Sample and data collection, including archival, is an ongoing effort with public and private collaborators.
Features
The Bioenergy Feedstock Library contains:
& Corresponding Data
Samples and data represent 100 different biomass types, originating across the U.S. and multiple other countries. Physical samples come from projects funded by the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and other contributors.
Capabilities
Project Management
Project Management provides researchers with tools to securely manage their own biomass samples from anywhere.
- The barcode-based sample and database management interface allows researchers to upload, store, edit and track physical samples, metadata, analytical data and hierarchical lineage.
- Security controls limit dissemination of detailed sample data to authorized users while still allowing external visitors to view snapshots of important biomass characteristics through data aggregation.
Samples and data can be accessed, managed, and exported through our Sample Database.
Parent-Child Tracking
Parent-child tracking maintains the relation¬ship of feedstock characteristics from single-source materials and their process intermediates in a hierarchical format through preprocessing and conversion operations.
Sample hierarchies can be visualized through our Sample Hierarchy tool.
Data Analysis and Summary Tools
The Analysis Summary tool shows an overview of the analysis results by displaying averages of all analyses performed for each feedstock type. This allows users to see breadth of analysis types and feedstocks at a glance.
Data Visualization tools allow for various visualization and statistics of data variability based on feedstock type and geographical coordinates. This tool also allows users to view other resources, including peer reviewed journal articles, that are associated with the samples included in the visualizations.
The Blend Prediction tool explores the projected characteristics of custom feedstock blends. Blend characteristics are estimated by combining characteristics of individual feedstock types, allowing the user to estimate quality parameters of theoretical feedstock blends.
Our Data Sets tool contains downloadable data sets that are meaningful groupings of database samples, data, relevant citations, and other supporting files within projects or across projects that are made publicly available.
Reference Materials
Our Reference Materials, described on our Biomass Info page, are physical samples that are available for request. These samples represent industrially relevant, real-world biomass and waste feedstock materials, each accompanied by data sheets providing provenance and characterization data for each sample.
Researchers may request shipment of Reference Materials by submitting a biomass request form or contacting biomasslib@inl.gov.
Become a User
Want more access to sample data, information, and BFL capabilities for project management? Register for membership, which is completely free.
Register through our “Access the Library” portal and clicking the “Login/Register” sub-menu item. If you require access to a specific project or have special requests please fill out the comments section of the registration form or contact biomasslib@inl.gov.
Citation Format
When using the BFL data, samples, and information for your research we suggest the following citation:
U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory. “Bioenergy Feedstock Library.” bioenergylibrary.inl.gov (accessed, Date)
Questions or Comments
We value user feedback. Please let us know if you have questions or suggestions to improve your experience.
Contact us at biomasslib@inl.gov or 208-526-0424.