BPC instruments AMPTS III User manual

s
www.bpcinstruments.com
Mobilvägen 10, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
Contact Us :
[phone]
OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
AMPTS III
Anaerobic batch fermentation test systems

2
Version 1.0 April 2023
The latest version of this manual can always be provided upon request:
[e-mail]
Any questions related to this document should be directed to:
BPC Instruments AB
Mobilvägen 10
SE-223 62 Lund
Sweden
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: https://www.bpcinstruments.com
This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. No part of this
publication may be redistributed in any form whatsoever or translated into any language
without prior, written permission of BPC Instruments AB.
© 2023 BPC Instruments AB. All rights reserved.
Produced in Sweden.

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LIST OF CONTENTS
General Information…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4
Chapter 01: Overview…..…………………………………………………………………………………………….
6
Chapter 02: Delivery Checks……………………………………………………………………………………….
8
Chapter 03: Equipment Description……………………………………………………………………………
10
Chapter 04: Setting up the Instrument……………………………………………………………………….
14
Chapter 05: AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light DUO………………………………………………………….
20
Chapter 06: AMPTS III Web-based Software……………………………………………………………….
22
6.1 Computer Network Configuration………………………………………………
22
6.2 Network Quick Guide………………………………………………………………….
22
6.3 Web-based Software AuroraTM…………………………………………………..
23
Chapter 07: Maintenance and Spare Parts………………………………………………………………….
27

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Before operating the AMPTS III (hereafter referred to as “the instrument”, “the system” or “the equipment”
interchangeably) from BPC Instruments AB (hereafter referred to as “BPC Instruments”, “BPC”, “Bioprocess
Control” or “BPC Instruments AB” interchangeably), carefully read this operator manual for the instrument, any
separate instructions for other equipment used together or in conjunction with the instrument, as well as the
safety instructions for any and all chemicals used in the process of utilising the instrument.
Safety Information
When performing experiments with the instrument, always use protective eyewear, gloves, and lab coat. Always
make sure there is adequate ventilation and take proper precautions when handling electrical devices near
water or explosive gases. Make sure to tie back any hanging objects, such as hair and clothing, when working
near rotating or other moving parts.
Do not modify the instrument without the prior consent of the manufacturer. BPC Instruments AB do not assume
responsibility for any errors due to equipment modification.
Do not clean or service the instrument while it is running.
Do not expose the instrument to mechanical vibrations or high frequency radio transmissions.
Never operate the instrument in a way it was not intended.
Never operate the instrument or let anyone else operate it without proper training.
Never use the instrument outside or in environments with parameters outside of the instruments recommended
range.
Never connect additional electrical equipment not supplied by BPC Instruments AB for the express purpose of
using with the instrument. This is true even if the connections can mate.
Always back-up important data to an external device.
Always keep the instrument level and on a flat and stable surface. Failing to do so can, among other things,
generate an erroneous gas reading.
Always make sure all safety guards are in place and working before operating the instrument.
Always make sure that all parts are functioning properly immediately after start-up.
Always keep the instrument clean.
Always make sure to have access to relevant chemicals before starting an experiment.
Always dispose of parts and chemicals according to applicable rules in the country of usage.
Periodic maintenance of the instrument and its various accessories is essential. Always make sure they are in
working condition. If service or spare parts are required, please visit https://webshop.bpcinstruments.com or
contact BPC Instruments AB directly or one of its representatives.
Always make sure to connect the power supply so that it is easy to remove from the mains power outlet and so
it doesn’t risk becoming damaged.

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Always make sure that the gas outlet of the Flow Cell Unit (FCU) is able to release pressure in the event of
pressure build-up inside of the instrument. Do not obstruct or block it.
Always wait 60 seconds between powering the system on and off. This will allow for the operating system to
shut down properly and for the capacitators to properly cycle.
Always use deionized water to minimise the risk of residue or rust forming on the inside of the FCU.
Limited Warranty
The product warranty provided with the instrument corresponds to the stipulations in Orgalime S 2012, unless
otherwise agreed upon with BPC Instruments AB. BPC Instruments AB reserves the right to correct any possible
errors, mistakes, changes, updates, technical data or otherwise relevant information in this manual or any other
documents, where applicable by law.
Electrical Safety
Compliance is required with respect to voltage, frequency and current requirements indicated on relevant parts.
Improper operation, damage to the equipment, fire or otherwise undesired effects might be caused by
connecting to a different power source. There are no user-serviceable parts in the equipment, unless otherwise
agreed upon with BPC Instruments AB.
Before Getting Started
Read this manual before installing and using the instrument. In addition, keep this instruction manual for future
reference and make sure it is easily available for people who regularly use the system.
Contact Information
BPC Instruments
Mobilvägen 10
223 62 Lund
Sweden
E-mail: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Website: https://www.bpcinstruments.com
Webshop: https://webshop.bpcinstruments.com
Swedish organisation number: 556687-2460

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Chapter 01: Overview
The Automatic Methane Potential Test System III (AMPTS III) is the next generation of the
well-established analytical platform for conducting anaerobic batch fermentation tests
developed by BPC Instruments. This new system comes with the best features of the previous
generation and a series of improvements and further developments in all the different parts
of the equipment.
AMPTS III was designed to cover a broad range of applications, including:
-Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) tests
-Biogas production (Gas composition based on methane and carbon dioxide)
-Specific Methanogenic Activity (SMA) assays
-Residual Gas Potential (RGP) assays
-Biological Hydrogen Potential (BHP) tests
In addition, this instrument is suitable to optimise relevant parameters involved in the
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process, providing key information regarding the optimum mix of
substrates for co-digesting processes, proper pre-treatment methods, the need for additives,
etc. During the degradation of the organic material under anaerobic condition, the produced
gas is continuously collected and measured when working with AMPTS III, which makes it
possible to determine the dynamic degradation profile of any biomass substrate.
Regarding the application, the main difference between AMPTS III and AMPTS II (previous
version) is the possibility to perform single (e.g., methane) and total gas (e.g., biogas)
measurements. In this case, users have the possibility to measure both biogas and methane
in the same batch test for estimation of gas composition. The gas measured can be easily
collected for further composition analysis.
AMPTS III retains the features of the previous version (AMPTS II), which include the following:
-Same configuration in two versions (AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light).
-Automated sampling, recording, data analysis and report generation.

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-Standalone instrument with embedded data acquisition and web server for remote
access (no need for software installation).
-The measuring cell is pre-calibrated by the factory.
-The software can be accessed locally or remotely from any device with a web browser
(preferably Google Chrome).
-Option for real-time automatic compensation for atmospheric pressure,
environmental temperature and moisture content changes to normalise the data to
standard conditions.
-Function to remove gas overestimation and automatic calculation of the amount of
substrate and inoculum needed per reactor in order to perform BMP tests.
-Reliable operation and easy maintenance where most of the components can be easily
exchanged without special requirements.
-System log for operational diagnosis.
Table 1 summarizes the new features of AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light:
Table 1. Overview of the new features of AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light.
AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light
INCUBATION UNIT
-18 channels (AMPTS III) and 9 channels (AMPTS III Light)
-AMPTS III standard configuration with 1 L reactors (0.5 L
reactors as an option).
-AMPTS III Light comes with 2 L reactors
-New thermostatic water bath with capacity to place 18 (0.5 /
1 L) or 9 (2 L) reactors
CO2-ABSORPTION UNIT
-Improved bottle holder design for CO2 removal bottles
-AMPTS III comes with two bottle holder units, each for nine
bottles, allowing more flexibility to arrange the instrument
-Higher capacity for CO2 removal with 250 mL sized bottles
(AMPTS II offered 100 mL bottles).
BPC CORE AMPTS UNIT AND
SOFTWARE
-New design where each flow cell is enclosed in a chamber
-The flow cell chambers can be easily replaced without tools
-Two possible measurement resolutions (2 and 9 mL)
-New electronics for faster and more stable operation
compared to the previous version
-150 times higher storage capacity compared to AMPTS II
-USB port for software upgrade
-Addition of a power button
-Factory reset function
-OLED screen to easy access the status and IP address of the
instrument.
-Built-in accelerometer for leveling of the unit C
-New software platform AuroraTM
-It is possible to start and stop all channels with one click
-Three types of normalisation
-New set of settings to visualise data and generate reports

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Chapter 02: Delivery Checks
AMPTS III (Figure 1) and AMPTS III Light (Figure 2) are delivered with the components listed
below:
Figure 1. AMPTS III Complete System.
Unit A – Incubation Unit
20 glass reactors (0.5 or 1 L)
1 motor controller signal cable
1 MCU power adapter
18 brushless DC motors
1 motor power splitter
18 axis couplings for brushless
DC motors
1 thermostatic water bath
1 base tray
19 brushless DC motor cables
250 mm (15 units)
500 mm (3 units)
1500 mm (1 unit)
20 stirrers GL 45 (0.5 or 1 L)
standard
1 thermostatic water bath lid
for 18 reactors (0.5 or 1 L)
1 motor controller unit
(MCU)
20 push-in valves 6 mm
Unit B – CO2-absorption Unit
2 bottle holders 9 x 250 mL
20 bottle nuts GL 45
20 glass bottles (250 mL)
20 lids GL 45
Unit C – BPC Core AMPTS Unit
1 BPC Core AMPTS
40 check valves
1 main unit power adapter
20 flow cell units (FCUs)
1 plastic syringe
1 ethernet cable
Additional Components
1 Festo tubing 50 m
40 push-in connectors 6 mm
1 bottle/tube opening tool
1 funnel
12 soft binders 7/180 mm
FCU volume sheet (2 or 9
mL)
20 tubing stoppers
40 multi-coloured marker clamps
Accessories
-More robust and less gas permeable tubing
-Tubing connectors to simplify and ensure a good and tight
connection between the tubing and the inlet of the flow cell
chamber and the outlet of the reactor
-Push-in valves to simplify the flushing step of the headspace
of the reactor in order to create an anaerobic environment
-New tubing markers for easy identification of the different
channels
-New tool for removing lids and tubing

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Figure 2. AMPTS III Light Complete System.
Unit A – Incubation Unit
10 glass reactors (2 L)
1 motor controller signal cable
1 MCU power adapter
9 brushless DC motors
1 motor power splitter
9 axis couplings for brushless
DC motors
1 thermostatic water bath
10 brushless DC motor cables
250 mm (6 units)
500 mm (3 units)
1500 mm (1 unit)
10 stirrers GL 45 (2 L) standard
1 thermostatic water bath lid
for 9 reactors (2 L)
1 motor controller unit
(MCU)
10 push-in valves 6 mm
Unit B – CO2-absorption Unit
1 bottle holders 9 x 250 mL
10 bottle nuts GL 45
10 glass bottles (250 mL)
10 lids GL 45
Unit C – BPC Core AMPTS Light Unit
1 BPC Core AMPTS
20 check valves
1 main unit power adapter
10 flow cell units (FCUs)
1 plastic syringe
1 ethernet cable
Additional components
1 Festo tubing 50 m
20 push-in connectors 6 mm
1 bottle/tube opening tool
1 funnel
6 soft binders 7/180 mm
FCU volume sheet (2 or 9
mL)
20 tubing stoppers
20 multi-coloured marker clamps
The following items are NOT provided in the package of both instruments:
-Flushing gas to obtain anaerobic conditions inside the reactors during the sample
preparation phase.
-3 mol/L sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution.
-pH indicator (Thymolphthalein) and ethanol.
-Additional wall socket adapters (plugs/contacts). The ones supplied are according to
European, US or UK standards, depending on the country where the instrument will
be operated.
-Gas sampling units and gas bags for off-line gas composition analysis.

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Chapter 03: Equipment Description
AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light consist mainly of three parts: Incubation unit, CO2-absorption
unit and detection unit (also called gas volume measuring device).
1) Incubation Unit (Unit A): Here is where the fermentation process takes place (Figure
3). 18 (0.5 or 1 L) or 9 (2 L) reactors are placed inside a thermostatic water bath (68 x
56 x 33 cm), which is used for temperature control (up to 60° C, precision of 0.2° C).
The thermostatic water bath is provided with a lid for 18 or 9 reactors to minimize
water loss and ensure that the temperature set point is rapidly reached. The
incubation system provides a well-controlled environment in regard to temperature,
pH, and relative humidity for biogas/biohydrogen production.
Figure 3. (A) Incubation unit for AMPTS III and (B) AMPTS III Light.
Each reactor is connected to a brushless DC motor that ensures a well-mixed content
through a strong, reliable, and multifunctional agitation system (Figure 4). A motor
controller provides the power via motor cables, where all the motors receive the same
information. The MCU needs to be turned off and unplugged from the power source
when any cables are connected or disconnected from the motors.
Figure 4. Main features of the agitation system in AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light.

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2) CO2-absorption Unit (Unit B): Different amounts of biogas is generated during the AD
process based on the content of the reactors (blank, positive control, negative control,
and samples). Biogas is mainly made of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The
unit B is where the CO2 and traces of hydrogen sulphide are removed through a
chemical reaction with a 3 mol/L NaOH solution (Figure 5). The absorption efficiency
is higher than 98% even at high flow rates.
Figure 5. Bottler holder designed for 9 glass bottles (250 mL). AMPTS III is equipped with two bottle
holders.
Carbon dioxide reacts with sodium hydroxide in an acid-base reaction to generate
sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate:
In this case, only methane will reach the detection unit (single gas measurements). If
the test aims to measure biogas, the Unit B is not needed, where the setup should
present the following configuration (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Setup for total gas (e.g., biogas) measurements.

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A pH indicator, Thymolphthalein, is used to keep track of the capacity of the alkaline
solution to retain CO2. Since a high concentration of a strong base is used, the initial
pH is 14. When CO2 is added, NaOH is consumed and the pH decreases. This pH
indicator changes from blue to colorless around pH 9 (Figure 7). In this pH, the capacity
of NaOH to remove the CO2 is reduced, indicating that the solution needs to be
changed.
Figure 7. Structure of Thymolphthalein depending on the pH.
NOTE: For most applications it is not necessary to submerge the tubing inside the
alkaline solution to remove CO2.
3) BPC Core AMPTS Unit (Unit C): Here the gas is recorded and processed. The BPC Core
AMPTS Unit consists of 18 or 9 flow cell units for simultaneous gas volume detection
from 18 or 9 independently operating reactors (Figure 8). Unit C comes with an OLED
screen which will display various information, including IP address of the instrument,
version of the software, current environmental parameters (temperature and
pressure), and alignment indicator. The information can be accessed through two
physical buttons located below the screen. The detection unit is equipped with an
USB port for software upgrades and possible new applications and a power button.
Figure 8. (A) Gas volume measuring device for AMPTS III and (B) AMPTS III Light.

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The FCU has 2 possible resolutions, 9 mL and 2 mL for low and ultra-low gas measurements.
The operational principle is based on liquid displacement and buoyance. When a certain gas
volume enters the flow cell unit, the force of buoyancy leads the flow cell to open and releases
the entrapped gas (Figure 9). The system counts each flow cell opening and registers the
temperature and pressure for automatic compensation to normalise the flow rate and
volume to standard conditions.
Figure 9. 2 and 9 mL FCUs and working principle.
The entire process involving the different components of the system is summarized in the
illustration below (Figure 10):
Figure 10. Illustration of the process from biogas production to methane measurement.

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Chapter 04: Setting up the Instrument
In order to install the system properly, the steps described below need to be followed:
Step 1: Unpack the instrument and place the thermostatic water bath on a flat and stable
surface.
Step 2: Remove the blue plastic protection on the thermostatic water bath lid, mount the legs
and handles and place the lid on top of the thermostatic water bath.
Step 3: Fix the reactors after adding the samples by following the instructions below:
Step 4: Place the reactors inside the thermostatic water bath. Add a piece of tubing to the
push-in valve and attach it to one of the 2 ports on the lid (the other one is the gas outlet).

15
A funnel is provided with the instrument to facilitate the introduction of solid samples inside
the reactor. Once all reactors are in place, distilled/deionised water needs to be added into
the thermostatic water bath until the recommended level by using the designated hole on
the thermostatic water bath lid.
In the thermostatic water bath, the temperature is controlled by a simple and intuitive digital
interface. The instrument contains 2 LED screens: the first one displaying the current
temperature (PV) and the second one showing the desired temperature (SV). Press the button
SET to determine SV. The desired temperature can be easily selected by using the shift digit,
increase and decrease buttons. When the button SET is pressed, the last digit of the value
displayed in SV blinks, indicating that the respective digit can be changed by pressing the
buttons increase (∧) and decrease (∨). If there is a considerable difference between the
current and desired temperature in SV, the user can use the shift digit button (R/S) to select
the first digit and quickly go from 30 to 60°C, for example. Once the desired temperature is
selected, press the button SET again to save the value. Once the desired temperature is
established, the instrument will heat the water until PV and SV reach the same values. When
the light HEAT is on, it is an indication that the instrument is on heating mode. When the
temperature in PV is close to reach the SV, 2° C from SV, the light HEAT will start blinking until
the desired temperature is achieved.
NOTE: Check periodically the water level inside the thermostic water bath.
Step 5: Fixing the agitation system for AMPTS III. Connect the short motor cables (250 mm)
in series by attaching one short motor cable to each motor (excluding the last motor in the
chain), and then connecting the free end of the cable from motor 1 to the free port on motor
2 and so on until motor 9. Repeat the same operation for the remaining nine motors, creating
two groups of motors connected to each other through short cables. After that, connect the
500 mm motor cable from the last motor in the chain of each group to the motor power
splitter. Finally, use the 1500 mm motor cable to connect the power splitter to the MCU. The
last step is to connect the signal cable from the motor controller to the detection unit.

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The same procedure described above can be used for AMPTS III Light.
NOTE: Make sure that the power adapter for the motor controller is disconnected from the
power supply when inserting or removing the motor cables.
From the motor it is only possible to control the direction of the mixing, clockwise (CW), AUTO
and counterclockwise (CCW). If users select AUTO, the motor controller will dictate the
change of direction at certain intervals using the timer, if the motor controller’s AUTO is ON.
Since the signal cable connects the motor controller to the unit C, the phase (single or double)
and speed can be controlled using the software (see page 24).
Step 6: Prepare 3 mol/L NaOH solution. The 250 mL bottles should be filled with 200 mL of
the alkaline solution which makes it necessary to add 3.6 L and 1.8 L of 3 mol/L NaOH for 18
and 9 glass bottles, respectively. After weighing 432 g (for 18 bottles) or 216 g (for 9 bottles)
of NaOH pellets, mix it with approximately 3⁄4 of the required total volume of distilled water.
The heat generation following dissolution of NaOH in water is high, it is therefore
recommended to add small amounts of supplementary water followed by mixing. When the
NaOH is completely dissolved, add the remaining amount of water until the total volume (3.6
or 1.8 L) is reached. Prepare 0.4% Thymolphthalein by dissolving 40 mg in 9 mL ethanol
followed by 1 mL of water. Mix it with 3 mol/L NaOH solution. After adding 200 mL of 3 mol/L
NaOH solution with pH indicator in each bottle, place them on the bottle holder.

17
Step 7: Add distilled water inside the FCU and place them on the detection unit.
Make sure that each FCU is perfectly seated (horizontally levelled) on the BPC Core AMPTS
Unit. It can be easily observed by checking the FCU level indicator and the level control from
the software or the OLED screen as shown below. Adjustable feet are used to level the
instrument.
The BPC Core AMPTS Unit is equipped with an OLED screen that provides information
regarding the status of the instrument (environmental conditions, time, current IP address
used by the instrument and alignment indicator). This can be accessed through two physical
buttons located below the screen.

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Backside of the BPC Core AMPTS Unit:
Step 8: Cut 36 (AMPTS III) or 18 (AMPTS III Light) pieces of festo tubing sufficient in length to
connect the gas outlet of each reactor to the corresponding alkaline solution bottle (Unit B)
and then a second piece to couple the glass bottle with NaOH solution to the FCU. In order to
simplify this procedure, use push-in connectors (two per channel) provided with the
instrument. To avoid water flowing back from Unit C to Unit B, check valves can be inserted
close to the inlet of each FCU in order to the target substance flow in one direction only.
NOTE: If the user wants to flush the reactors to create the anaerobic environment, disconnect
the tubing from the CO2-absorption unit before to eliminate the risk of damaging the external
check valves (if used) by the high-pressure gas flow.

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Step 9: Use the softer binder to group tubing of channels that are related to each other. If the
test is conducted in triplicate, it is possible to put together six groups with three channels
(tubing) each based on the content of the reactors. In order to easily identify each channel,
add the multi-coloured marker clamps (two per channel) provided in different colors. Mark
each channel by writing the proper description using a ballpoint pen, water-based pen,
marker, etc. After the experiment, users can wipe the label off with a wet tissue and reuse
them.
Step 10: In order to start the test, access the software following the instructions in Chapter 6
of this manual. Add the parameters required for the test and make sure that the status of
each channel is classified as ready before starting the gas measurements. When using the
instrument for the first time, the cell volume of each channel needs to be entered in the
control page. A calibration sheet is delivered with the equipment, where the serial number of
the flow cell unit is listed together with its calibrated volume. It is important to know where
each flow cell unit will be placed on the system, so that the calibrated values can be entered
in the right position.
NOTE: Testing the detection unit and software. Before starting the experiment, simulate a
flow cell opening by manually removing each FCU and put it back in numerical order from 1
to 18 (repeat this procedure three times). Follow the corresponding result of each opening
on the plots in the graph page of the software to make sure that both the detection system
and data acquisition system function properly.

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Step 11: Once the experiment is finished, generate and download a report in the report menu
of the software. Turn off the thermostatic water bath and the motors, including the motor
controller. Next, unplug the power adapters (for the Motor Controller and the Gas Volume
Measuring Device) from the power source. Disconnect the tubing and remove the lids from
the reactors and CO2 removal bottles after the tests. These components are often difficult to
remove after the experiments, since they sit very tightly after usage, specially the tubing to
the different connectors. AMPTS III is equipped with a bottle/tube opening tool to easily
remove lids and tubing without the risk of damaging them and the connectors.
Chapter 05: AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light DUO
The AMPTS III and AMPTS III Light DUO was designed to increase the testing capacity for
double gas measurements. This configuration consists of two BPC Core AMPTS Units, where
users can measure the total gas (e.g., CH4 + CO2) and a gas component (e.g., CH4) from 18
samples simultaneously (Figure 11).
The system operates based on three different stages:
-Stage : The accumulated gas volume and flow rate generated by the anaerobic
digestion process (CH4 + CO2) or dark fermentation process (H2 + CO2) is continuously
measured by the first BPC Core AMPTS Unit.
-Stage : Carbon dioxide is removed using a 3 mol/L NaOH solution (selective
absorption). In this case, only a single gas component will be measured by the second
detection unit.
-Stage : CH4 or H2 is collected and measured.
The average gas composition can be backcalculated and plotted at any time during the test.