Production and Characteristics of Biomass for Arundo donax, Pennisetum purpureum, and P. purpureum × P. glaucum in a Short-Rotation Crop System in Humid Tropical Conditions in Costa Rica

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-304
Author(s):  
Estephanía Salazar-Zeledón ◽  
Johana Gaitán-Alvarez ◽  
Róger Moya

HighlightsArundo donax, Pennisetum purpureum, and P. purpureum × P. glaucum planted at 103 plants ha-1 were studied.Biomass production and energy characteristics were evaluated at 12, 18, 24, and 30 months.The production of dry biomass varied between 2.52 and 39.25 Mg ha-1.The biomass quality and production of Arundo donax were different from those of Pennisetum ssp.Abstract.The high global demand for fossil fuels has led to the search for alternative sources of renewable energy, such as the production of biomass from short-rotation crops (SRC). This study evaluated three grass species (, , and × ) in SRC systems planted at 103 plants ha-1 in humid tropical conditions in Costa Rica, considering biomass production, moisture content, and energy and chemical properties at four harvest ages (12, 18, 24, and 30 months). The results showed that the height of all species varied between 0.9 and 3.5 m at the different harvests, while the production of dry biomass varied between 2.52 and 39.25 Mg ha-1. As for their chemical properties, the ash content varied between 5.9% and 10.2%, volatile matter varied between 73.3% and 81.9%, and net calorific value varied between 15.86 and 18.94 MJ kg-1. In the three species, the production of biomass was greater at the 12-month and 18-month harvests; at later harvests, biomass production began to decrease, leading to increased moisture and ash contents, lower volatile matter, and lower calorific value. The biomass quality and production of were different from those of . Keywords: Bioenergy, Energetic potential, Forage, Pastures, Short-rotation plantations, Tropical species.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Alpian ◽  
Raynold Panjaitan ◽  
Adi Jaya ◽  
Yanciluk ◽  
Wahyu Supriyati ◽  
...  

Charcoal briquettes can be an alternative energy and can be produced from Gerunggang and Tumih types of wood. These two types of wood are commonly found in Kalampangan Village as pioneer plants on burned peatlands. The research objective was to determine the chemical properties of charcoal briquettes produced from biomass waste from land processing without burning with several compositions of Gerunggang wood and Tumih wood. The chemical properties of charcoal briquettes refer to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-6235-2000) and Standard Permen ESDM No. 047 of 2006. The results showed that all composition treatments in the ash content test, fixed carbon content and calorific value met the standards, while the test for volatile content in all treatment compositions did not meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-6235-2000). The composition of the most potential chemical properties and following the two standards used is the composition of 100% Tumih with ash content of 7.67%, volatile matter content of 27.23%, fixed carbon of 55.00%, and heating value of 5902.18 cal/g.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 593
Author(s):  
Carolina Tenorio ◽  
Róger Moya ◽  
Edgar Ortiz-Malavassi ◽  
Dagoberto Arias

Mortality, diameter at 30 cm over ground level, height, biomass production, and carbon capture (CC) for different tree components (trunk, bark, branches, and leaves) in two locations in Costa Rica, during their first three years and with three plantation spacings (1.0 × 0.5 m, 1.0 × 1.0 m, and 1.0 × 2.0 m) were obtained for Gmelina arborea Roxb. trees growing in short rotation coppice systems (SRC). In addition, regression models were developed to predict biomass production and CC using location, age, spacing, and their interactions. Biomass production was measured by weight of trees without considering dendrometric variables. Results showed that mortality was lower than 15% for one location, with probable high fertility, and almost 85% for the other location. Diameter and height of trees increased with plantation age in both locations. The highest biomass production and CC were observed in the spacings of 1.0 × 0.5 m2 and 1.0 × 1.0 m2, with 20 Mg/ha/year and 8 Mg/ha/year, respectively. The models to predict biomass production in trunk with bark, branches, leaves, total biomass without leaves, and CC in trunk, branch, and total biomass were developed using this equation: Y = β1 + β2 (location × age) + β3 (age) + β4 (spacing). The R2 values varied from 0.66 to 0.84, with error from 0.88 to 10.75 and indicators of goodness of fit from 60 to 83%.


Author(s):  
Henrique Guimarães De Favare ◽  
Joadil Gonçalves De Abreu ◽  
Livia Vieira De Barros ◽  
Felipe Gomes Da Silva ◽  
Luis Miguel Mendes Ferreira ◽  
...  

Aimed to evaluate the bromatological composition of different genotypes of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) to energy production through combustion. The experimental design was a randomized block with 3 repetition and the treatments arranged in a subdivided plots scheme, considering as a plots the thirteen genotypes and harvests (dry and rainy) as subplots. The genotypes evaluated were Cubano Pinda, Porto Rico, Vrukwona, Piracicaba 241, Cuba 116, Taiwan A-25, Mecker, Napier, Canará, Guaçu, Cameroon, CNPGL 93-41-1 and CNPGL 91-25-1 clones. The experiment lasted two consecutive years with harvests made every 6 months, with a harvest in the dry season (September) and another one in the rainy season (March), totaling 4 harvests. For dry matter content analysis, three tillers were selected at random and dried in an oven at 55ºC until reaching a constant mass. For biomass quality analysis, the samples were ground in Willey type mills with 1 mm sieves, submitted to bromatological analysis to determine the neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, volatile materials, and fixed carbon content. Higher levels of dry matter (greater than 44.4%), acid detergent fiber (greater than 44.8%), volatile matter (greater than 94.3%) and higher calorific value (greater than 3,450 kcal kg-1) occur in the dry period of the year and in genotypes Mercker, Piracicaba 241, Guaçu and BRS Canará genotypes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 866 ◽  
pp. 168-171
Author(s):  
Udomdeja Polyium ◽  
Amornrat Pigoolthong

The research aims to develop fuel briquettes from sisal waste material mixed with bagasse. Sisal wastes were collected from Hub Kapong Royal Project Phetchaburi Province Thailand. These material were mixed according to the ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50 respectively. Characterization of physical and chemical properties of fuel briquettes were determined by percentage moisture content, percentage ash content, percentage volatile matter, percentage fixed carbon, and calorific value with the standard number ASTM 3173, ASTM D 3175, ASTM D 3174, ASTM D 3177 and ASTM D 3286 respectively. The results show that percentage moisture content values of 9.98 - 18.14, percentage volatile matter values of 42.59 - 68.04, percentage ash content values of 16.05 -25.41, percentage fixed carbon values of 5.93 - 13.86 and calorific values of 1,820.52 - 2,485.19 kcal/kg. Fuel briquettes to be used as a fuel substitute for firewood and charcoal.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Arul Kumar ◽  
H. Kanaga Sabapathy ◽  
I. Neethimanickam

The present study deals with determination of physical, mechanical and combustion characteristics like mass, density, compressive strength, shearing strength, moisture content, total ash content, fixed carbon, volatile matter, gross calorific value of Sawdust briquette. Briquette quality is evaluated mainly by briquette density. Briquette density is very important from the viewpoint of manipulation, burning speed, briquette durability, etc. During our research, theoretical analyses of parameters which have an impact on briquette quality were conducted. The sawdust sample produced using super-70 piston press machine. The compression test and shear test were conducted for three sawdust sample using compression testing machine. For quality and durability evaluation of the manufactured briquette the density and strength properties were determined. To determine the calorific value and proximate analysis of the briquette using the tests carried out in the lab.


Author(s):  
G. Antal

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial, herbaceous grass, it has been spread all over the world from continent to tropical conditions by human activities. In continental climate, especially Hungary, it has been considered as ornamental species, due to its decorative appearance, striped variants’ colour of leaves, long growing season and low maintenance requirements. It does not produced viable seeds, so it can be propagated vegetative ways by rhizomes or stem cuttings and by in vitro biotechnology methods. Because of its growth habits and good adaptation capability, it has been considered invasive weed primarily in coastal regions in warmer climate areas. In the previous century, giant reed produced for paper/cellulose/viscose production, woodwind musical instruments, stakes for plants or fishing rods etc. Over the last few decades, it has been produced for bioenergy purposes (bioethanol, biogas, direct combustion) or utilize as chemical basic compounds or construction materials. It has been considered a dedicated promising biomass crops thanks to high biomass production, high energy balance of cultivation and adaptability of different kind of soils and conditions. The objective of the present paper is to overview the most significance literature data on giant reed production and utilization, compare to own experimental data and economic calculations and to determine some critical factors, advantages and disadvantages of giant reed production compare to other biomass species.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Eimil-Fraga ◽  
Xurxo Proupín-Castiñeiras ◽  
Jose Antonio Rodríguez-Añón ◽  
Roque Rodríguez-Soalleiro

Eight poplar genotypes grown in a short rotation forest plantation established in an acid soil in South Europe were sampled at the age of 7 years to determine the energy properties regarding thermochemical conversion. The goal was to address the effect of selection of genotypes or shoot size at harvest on the energy quality of biomass. Between 34 and 50 biomass samples were obtained for each genotype: three disks were systematically sampled along the stem and were pooled together with a subsample of leafless branches representative of the biomass share of this component. Several energy properties were determined: higher calorific value, net calorific value, fresh moisture content, basic density, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon content and elemental composition. Genotype had a significant effect on most of these properties, and the balsam genotypes displayed superior quality parameters and also higher biomass yield than the Euramerican genotypes. As a covariate, shoot basal diameter had a significant effect on the moisture content, basic density, ash content and on the concentrations of the elements N, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na and C. It was concluded that genotypes with low nutrient requirements planted at low density (<8000 cuttings ha−1) and harvested at a long enough rotation (7 years) produce good yields and high chip quality. Poplar short rotation crops can be grown to produce chips of A2 quality for non-industrial heating use (according to UNE-EN ISO 17225-4), able to be combusted in domestic thermal facilities of <1 MWth power.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Tien Tsai ◽  
Po-Cheng Huang ◽  
Yu-Quan Lin

In this work, the thermochemical analyses of dairy manure (DM), including the proximate analysis, ultimate (elemental) analysis, calorific value, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and inorganic elements, were studied to evaluate its potential for producing DM-based char (DMC) with high porosity. The results showed that the biomass should be an available precursor for producing biochar materials based on its high contents of carbon (42.63%) and volatile matter (79.55%). In order to characterize their pore properties, the DMC products produced at high pyrolysis temperatures (500–900°C) were analyzed using surface area and porosity analyzer, pycnometer, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The values of pore properties for the DMC products increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature, leading to more pore development and condensed aromatic cluster at elevated temperatures. Because of the microporous and mesoporous structures from the N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms with the hysteresis loops (H4 type), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the optimal biochar (DMC-900) was about 360 m2/g, which was higher than the data reported in the literature. The highly porous structure was also seen from the SEM observations. More significantly, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the optimal DMC product showed a high value of 57.5 ± 16.1 cmol/kg. Based on the excellent pore and chemical properties, the DMC product could be used as an effective amendment and/or adsorbent for the removal of pollutants from the soil media and/or fluid streams.


Ceiba ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón G. León ◽  
Robert A. Gilber ◽  
Pedro H. Korndorfer ◽  
Jack C. Comstock

The urgent need to reduce our reliance on oil and at the same time reduce carbon emissions, has triggered the search for alternative energy sources such as biofuels. New technologies have made possible the conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose into sugars that can be fermented to produce ethanol. This opened the possibility that any plant species can be used for ethanol production. Species that produce large amounts of biomass in a short time are desirable. For this reason, one of the most critical steps in the development of biofuel production is to identify appropriate species that will provide the necessary biomass for cellulosic ethanol or direct combustion. Energycanes are wide crosses of commercial sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) with S. spontaneum clones which produce high-biomass plants with high fiber content and good cold and disease tolerance as well as excellent ratooning ability. A large scale study has been established to evaluate biomass production, growth characteristics and invasive potential of energycane clones under tropical (Limón, Costa Rica) and subtropical (South Florida) conditions since 2008. In Florida in a low fertility sandy soil, energycane clones and the grass species Pennisetum purpureum var. Merkeron showed the highest yields ranging from 50 to 78 ton ha-1 of fresh weight. These clones were not susceptible to smut (Sporisorium scitaminea) unlike the energycane L79-1002 which is currently the most widely grown clone of energycane. Most clones showed lateral vegetative growth, but no pollen or seed viability. In Costa Rica, the evaluation of 15 energycane clones is still in progress, however preliminary results indicated that the energycane clones had faster and more vigorous growth than the commercial sugarcane varieties, only exceeded by P. purpureum. In comparison with commercial sugarcane varieties, the energycane clones recorded 37% higher leaf area index (LAI) and height, and 65% more stalks per unit area. No evident disease susceptibility was observed in the energycane clones in the tropics, although lateral vegetative growth was observed in all clones. Additionally, all clones flowered and produced viable pollen which suggests that these clones have a higher invasive potential in the tropics. The information available until now suggests that the behavior of energycane germplasm varies importantly between tropical and sub-tropical conditions. Therefore, selection and breeding programs must be carefully developed accounting for the unique responses that this germplasm could show under these two different climatic conditions.


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