4.1 The percentage, by mass, of sugar content is used in conjunction with other assays to determine the total composition of biomass samples.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of carbohydrates present in a biomass sample, expressed as the percent, by mass, of each sugar on a 105 °C dried mass basis.

Note 1: The percent sugar must be corrected for the water of hydrolysis before calculating the actual mass percent of the polysaccharide in the original biomass sample.

1.2 Sample materials suitable for this procedure include hard and soft woods, herbaceous materials (such as switchgrass and sericea), agricultural residues (such as corn stover, wheat straw, and bagasse), wastepaper (such as office waste, boxboard, and newsprint), acid or alkaline-pretreated biomass (washed free of any residual acid or alkali), and the solid fraction of fermentation residues. All results are reported relative to the 105 °C oven-dried mass of the sample.

1.3 The options for the types of samples to be analyzed in this test method are as follows:

1.3.1 Prepared Biomass Samples: 

1.3.1.1 Air Dried (%T_ad)—The percent, by mass, of total solids of the air-dried sample.

1.3.1.2 45 °C Dried (%T₄₅)—The percent, by mass, of total solids of the 45 °C dried sample.

1.3.1.3 Freeze Dried (%T_fd)—The percent, by mass, of total solids of the freeze dried sample.

1.3.2 Extractives-Free Sample (%T _ext)—The percent, by mass, of total solids of the extracted sample determined at 105°C.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.5 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Note 3 and Note 4.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.