Chemical and biochemical properties were investigated in 47 solids collected from commercial solids separation plants separating liquid manure into a nutrient-rich solid fraction and a nutrient-poor liquid fraction. The samples originated from five different types of separation technologies, separating primarily swine manure and anaerobically digested manure. The largest variations in measured chemical and biochemical characteristics between samples from the five different separation technologies were found for ash, total P, total C. DM and C distribution in the biochemical fractions (neutral detergent solubles (NDS), hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data obtained showed that the chemical and biochemical characteristics of the solids were dependent on the type of technology used for separation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.