The biomethane potential or biochemical methane potential (BMP) of a specific substrate defines the maximum amount of methane that can be produced by anaerobic digestion. BMP is a key parameter for substrate characterisation and efficiency evaluation of anaerobic digestion plants. It is crucial for assessing quality and monetary value of different substrate types and enables reliable process balancing.

BMP is typically measured in anaerobic batch tests in a laboratory setup (BMP test). The fundamental principle of a BMP test is straight forward: a sample of the investigated substrate is digested with an active and well-functioning inoculum in bottles incubated at an appropriate temperature. Additionally, blank samples, only containing inoculum, are incubated as well. Assuming no synergistic/antagonistic effects, the resulting methane production of the substrate can be determined by subtracting methane production of the blank (inoculum) from the substrate sample (substrate + inoculum). The final value of cumulative methane production after test termination is defined as the experimental BMP of the substrate.

Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS) III is the research-standard analytical tool preferred by scientists and engineers for conducting various anaerobic batch fermentation tests. AMPTS is the only automated test apparatus referenced in VDI 4630 for biochemical methane potential (BMP), specific methanogenic activity (SMA) and residual gas potential (RGP).

The system consists of 18 parallel reactors (9 reactor configuration available) and the same number of gas flow meters (flow cells) attached to a detection unit for online, automatic data acquisition.  This allows for the real-time investigation of a high number of feedstock samples with high precision and accuracy.