Moisture is a ubiquitous and variable component of any biomass sample. Moisture is not considered a structural component of biomass and can change with storage and handling of biomass samples. The determination of the total solids content allows for the correction of biomass samples to an oven-dried solids mass that is constant for a particular sample.

This procedure is not suitable for biomass samples that visibly change on heating to 105°C, for example, unwashed acid-pretreated biomass still containing free acid.

Some materials that contain large amount of free sugars or proteins will caramelize or brown under direct infrared heating elements used in Test Method B. Total solids in these materials should be done by Test Method A.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the amount of total solids remaining after drying a sample. Materials suitable for this procedure include samples prepared in accordance with Practice E 1757 and extractive-free material prepared in accordance with Test Method E 1690. For particulate wood fuels, Test Method E 871 should be used.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.