Calorimetric characterization of grass during its decomposition

Abstract

Grass is cultivated for bioenergy purposes yet and expected to play a more prominent role as a source of renewable energy in the future. Understanding its burning characteristics is thus crucial to optimize the energetic efficiency. The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of i) microbial decomposition and ii) enzymatic depolymerisation of grass on its thermal behaviour. Thermal characteristics of grass during the course of aerobic decomposition and of fresh samples after treatment by enzymatic hydrolysis were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Heat of reaction, 50% burnoff values and positions and areas of peaks were taken as indicators for the thermal behaviour. An increase in biochemical stability of the grass during 140 days of decomposition was indicated by an exponential mass loss and decreasing specific CO2 respiration rates. Parameters representing the thermal stability of the materials coincided with this pattern. The relative contribution of the thermolabile fraction decreased, and 50% burnoff values increased almost steadily during decomposition from 366 to 407°C. These thermal stability parameters are thus indicators for biochemical degradation. However, peak temperatures of the individual peaks continuously decreased during decomposition. A comparison of composted and fresh, cellulase-treated samples without long-term microbial decomposition indicated that enzymatic depolymerisation rather than microbial consumption of the plant tissue led to the observed decrease in peak temperatures.