ENERGETIC POTENTIAL OF Phyllostachys bambusoides AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF BIOMASS

In Brazil, Phyllostachys bambusoides has been used for the manufacture of laminated bamboo products and landscaping. However, studies of its energy quality are rare. Thus, this study aimed to determine the energetic quality of Phyllostachys bambusoides for the use of stems in the fresh form (chips) for direct burning, as charcoal and as briquettes. Its energy potential was also determined by mass and energy balance for each solid biofuel (chips, briquettes, and charcoal). The analyzes were carried out on five individuals (shoots) at 3 years of age, collected at experimental plantations in Frei Rogério, SC. In the stems the newly collected moisture was determined; specific gravity; chemical composition; immediate analysis and higher calorific value. In laboratory charcoal, gravimetric yield, apparent relative density, immediate analysis, and higher calorific value were determined. The briquettes, made in the laboratory, were evaluated through their apparent density and compressive strength. For the stems, charcoal, and briquettes the energy density was calculated and a flowchart composed of the mass balance was calculated and the thermal energy production potential for each 100 kg of biomass used in the production of each biofuel analyzed was calculated. The energy density of stems (1.87 Gcal.m-3), charcoal (2.60 Gcal.m-3), and briquettes (4.68 Gcal.m-3) varied significantly. The highest useful energy potential can be obtained from briquettes (0.304 Gcal), charcoal (0.184 Gcal) followed by stems (0.168 Gcal) for each 100 kg of bamboo harvested with a mean moisture content of 35%.

Effect of Oxygen for Enhancing the Gas Storage Performance of Activated Green Carbon

We investigated the gas storage capacity of thermally carbonized and chemically activated Phyllostachys bambusoides (PB), which is a nature-derived green carbon with an organic porous structure. Samples were thermally treated at 900 °C for 24 h, and then were chemically activated with different amounts of KOH. The pore distribution, surface area, and H2 storage capacity were measured by N2 and H2 gas sorption, up to 847 mmHg (1.13 bar) at 77 K. The CO2 storage capacity was measured up to 847 mmHg (1.13 bar) at 298 K. The maximum gas storage was shown in the sample activated with 6 times gravimetric ratio of chemical agent. It reached 1.86 wt% for H2 and 3.44 mmol/g for CO2. We used multilateral analysis methods (XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope) to identify the factors influencing gas sorption. We found that the amount of oxygen groups influence the enhancement of gas storage capacity. Moreover, the results showed that PB-based porous activated carbon has the potential to be used as a multirole gas storage material.

Potencial do uso de quatro espécies de bambu para a produção de carvão vegetal para uso doméstico

A utilização de colmos de bambu pode ser uma importante alternativa de ampliação das fontes renováveis para a produção de bioenergia, inclusive para a produção de carvão. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de quatro espécies de bambu para a produção de carvão vegetal para uso doméstico, como forma de promoção do uso múltiplo desta matéria-prima e para geração de renda adicional para os agricultores familiares de Santa Catarina. Foram analisados cinco indivíduos das espécies Bambusa vulgaris, coletada em Florianópolis, e Phyllostachys bambusoides; Phyllostachys edulis e Phyllostachys nigra coletadas no município de Frei Rogério, Santa Catarina. As análises da massa específica básica dos colmos in natura, as propriedades físicas, rendimento da carbonização e propriedades energéticas do carvão foram realizadas nas porções basal, mediana e topo dos colmos de bambu de cada espécie. A qualidade do carvão vegetal variou entre as espécies de bambu, tendo como único ponto negativo o alto teor de cinzas para uso doméstico do carvão vegetal. Houve alta correlação positiva entre a densidade básica dos colmos e a densidade relativa aparente do carvão vegetal. A espécie Bambusa vulgaris apresentou o maior rendimento no processo produtivo, porém gerou carvão mais leve e com pior desempenho energético. Entre as espécies avaliadas, Phyllostachys nigra foi a espécie que produziu o carvão vegetal com a melhor qualidade energética e com boas propriedades físicas e rendimento gravimétrico. A qualidade do carvão vegetal variou em relação à altura do colmo. O topo dos colmos, que é o resíduo que pode ser destinado para a produção de carvão em plantios comerciais de bambu para múltiplos usos, apresentou maior rendimento no processo produtivo e carvão com maior densidade. Porém a qualidade energética do carvão foi inferior em relação a base e posição mediana dos colmos.

Effects of a commercial biocide, kasugamycin and consistency of the culture medium on the in vitro establishment of bamboo1

ABSTRACT The contamination by microorganisms and oxidation of explants in the in vitro establishment of bamboo are recurrent problems for its micropropagation. In the present study, effects of the biocide Plant Preservative Mixture (PPM™), the antibiotic kasugamycin and the consistency of the culture medium were evaluated in the in vitro establishment of Bambusa vulgaris,Phyllostachys bambusoides and Dendrocalamus asper. The presence of PPM™ in the culture medium had a significant effect using 2 mL L-1 or 4 mL L-1 concentrations, as well as in the liquid culture medium, increasing the plants established in the autumn. Kasugamycin promoted variable responses for all the three species, depending on the season. There was interaction among the factors, demonstrating that higher rates of viable plants can be obtained by combining different strategies to reduce the oxidation and contamination. For the in vitro establishment of B. vulgaris,P. bambusoides and D. asper, it is recommended to add 2 mL L-1 or 4 mL L-1 of PPM™ to the liquid culture medium.

Potential of bamboo species for the production of briquettes

ABSTRACT Bamboo is a versatile plant that is widely used in many areas for feeding, manufacturing of utensils, construction and environmental purposes. The energetic use of bamboo stalks or residues from other applications is a promising alternative and compatible with sustainable development principles. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of four bamboo species (Bambusa vulgaris, Phyllostachys bambusoides, Phyllostachys edulis and Phyllostachys nigra) for briquette production. The following properties were evaluated: moisture content, bulk density, compression strength, proximate analysis, gross calorific value and energetic density. The results showed numbers ranging from 1.109 g cm-3 to 1.228 g cm-3 for bulk density, 4.68 MPa to 5.82 MPa for compression strength, 79.01 % to 82.25 % for volatile content, 15.26 % to 20.18 % for fixed carbon content, 0.38 % to 2.49 % for ash content, 4,571 kcal kg-1 to 4,716 kcal kg-1 for gross calorific value and 5.08 Gcal m-3 to 5.84 Gcal m-3 for energetic density. The briquettes produced from P. nigra presented the best energetic quality, followed by briquettes from P. edulis, P. bambusoides and B. vulgaris. Overall, it may be said that the four bamboo species can be used as alternative raw materials for energy generation.

First record of the alien bamboo leafhopper, Branchana xanthota, in Japan (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae)

An alien bamboo leafhopper, Branchana xanthota Li, is recorded from Japan for the first time. Three species of bamboos are recognized as host plants: Phyllostachys bambusoides, Phyllostachys edulis and Pleioblastus simonii.