Abstract
Within the framework of energy biomass production, Arundo donax L. is very promising for its capability to grow on marginal lands with high yields. This potential can be realized in unused polluted areas where the energy production can be coupled with phytoremediation, and harvested biomass represents a resource and a means to remove contaminants from the soil. Two main processes are considered to evaluate A. donax L. biomass as an energy crop, determined by the timing of harvest: anaerobic digestion with fresh biomass before winter and combustion (e.g., pyrolysis and gasification) of dry canes in late winter. The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of A. donax L. in an area polluted by heavy metals for phytoextraction and energy production at two different harvest times (October and February). For that purpose, we established in polluted area in northern Italy (Caffaro area, Brescia) an experimental field of A. donax, and included switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and mixed meadow species as controls. The results obtained by ICP-MS analysis performed on harvested biomasses highlighted a differential uptake of heavy metals depending on harvest time. In particular, considering the yield in the third year, A. donax was able to remove from the soil 3.87 kg ha−1 of Zn, 2.09 kg ha−1 of Cu and 0.007 kg ha−1 of Cd when harvested in October. Production of A. donax L. for anaerobic digestion or combustion in polluted areas represents a potential solution for both energy production and phytoextraction of heavy metals, in particular Cu, Zn and Cd.
Highlights
The ability of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to grow on marginal lands means that this plant can be cultivated on soils not suitable for traditional purposes
The three-year experiment described in this study was performed using the selected Ad20 clone from the Italian Arundo donax L. (Ad) collection located in Landriano (PV, Italy, 45◦18 N, 9◦15 E); sown switchgrass (Pv) var
Considering the production of biomass, the main effects of the factors species (S), year (Y) and their interaction were significant (p < 0.05), but no effect was found for the factor harvest time (HT)
Summary
The ability of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to grow on marginal lands means that this plant can be cultivated on soils not suitable for traditional purposes. Finds applications in the production of bioenergy by different means, such as biogas and bioethanol production, biomass combustion [1] and pyrolysis/gasification [3,4]. This is due to the high calorific value of 18.7 ± 1.2 MJ kg−1 that is comparable with that of other herbaceous grasses, i.e., switchgrass and miscanthus (HHV of 19.1 kg−1 and 18.7 MJ kg−1 respectively), and woody biomasses such as poplar (HHV of 19.5 MJ kg−1). Giant reed, miscanthus, switchgrass and poplar can produce 37–38, 15–30, 10–25 and 9–20 Mg DM ha−1, respectively [5]; we can deduce that giant reed, potentially, can produce about respectively 40%, 52% and 59% more energy per hectare in comparison with the other three crops
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