Shaping the future of biomethane potential testing with Prof. Konrad Koch
“Automated systems like AMPTS III allow my students to focus on what matters, data analysis and paper writing, rather than spending hours on tedious manual measurements,” says Prof. Konrad Koch of the Technical University of Munich.

With nearly two decades of experience in biomethane potential (BMP) testing, Prof. Koch has played an important role in advancing research and standardising methodologies in anaerobic digestion. His work, including a recent international interlaboratory test involving 43 labs, shows how automation can reduce errors and deliver reliable, high-quality data for the scientific community.
Driving progress with automation
In Prof. Koch’s lab, three AMPTS III systems from BPC Instruments operate continuously throughout the year, forming the backbone of their BMP testing efforts. “These systems aren’t just data generators—they allow my students to focus more on data analysis and paper writing instead of wasting their valuable time on stupid manual measurements,” he says with a laugh.
Since acquiring their first AMPTS in 2012, Prof. Koch’s team has published over 20 papers using data generated by the system. “It’s hard to imagine our lab without them. They’ve been reliable tools for ensuring high-quality results,” he shares.
In a recent international interlaboratory test, Prof. Koch and his team compared BMP methods across 43 labs, with 15 using AMPTS systems. “One key finding was the significant reduction in data processing errors when using AMPTS. The system standardises CH4 volumes, making calculations straightforward and reliable,” he explains. The findings, published in an open-access paper, demonstrate how automated solutions can improve consistency in BMP testing: DOI link.
Collaboration and innovation
Prof. Koch appreciates the reliability of BPC’s instruments and the company’s dedication to support and innovation. “Whenever we’ve had a problem, BPC’s team has been incredibly responsive. It’s not common to find such great support,” he says. He also values BPC’s focus on improving existing instruments and developing new ones, which makes advanced tools accessible even to less experienced researchers.
As a member of an international task force on BMP test standardisation, Prof. Koch works to improve testing methods and encourage collaboration in the scientific community. By openly sharing findings, he hopes to support researchers worldwide in improving accuracy and consistency in biomethane testing.
Moving forward
While recognising the role of manual methods in certain labs, Prof. Koch highlights automation as the future of BMP testing. “Systems like AMPTS significantly save time and reduce errors, making a real difference in research efficiency,” he notes. His work with BPC Instruments continues to advance more efficient and reliable approaches to biomethane potential testing, supporting researchers and labs worldwide.
About Prof. Konrad Koch
Prof. Konrad Koch is a researcher and professor at the Technical University of Munich, specialising in energy recovery from waste and wastewater. His work focuses on optimising anaerobic digestion processes, microbial methanation, and co-digestion technologies. He is also a member of an international task force on BMP test standardisation.