Abstract
Biomass from cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered a renewable energy source that can be converted into alternative fuel. Calorific syngas, a promising type of advanced fuel, can be produced through thermochemical biomass gasification. In this study, the suitability of cup plant biomass for gasification was assessed, including the process energy balance and environmental impacts of waste from syngas purification. Silphium perfoliatum L. was cultivated as a gasification feedstock in different conditions (irrigation, fertilization). The experiments were performed in a membrane gasifier. All obtained energy parameters were compared to the biomass yield per hectare. The toxic effects of liquid waste were assessed using tests analyzing germination/seed root elongation of Sinapsis alba. Leachates collected from condensation tanks of a gas generator were introduced to soil at the following doses: 100, 1000 and 10,000 mg kg−1 DM of soil. The usefulness of Silphium perfoliatum L. for gasification was confirmed. The factors of plant cultivation affected the biomass yield, the volume and calorific value of syngas and the amount of biochar. It was determined that the components found in condensates demonstrate a phytotoxic effect, restricting or inhibiting germination and root elongation of Sinapsis alba. Due to this potential hazard, the possibility of its release to the environment should be limited. Most of the biomass is only used for heating purposes, but the syngas obtained from the cup plant can be used to power cogeneration systems, which, apart from heat, also generate electricity.
Highlights
Biomass can be transformed directly into heat or energy via thermochemical conversion processes [1]
The aim of this study was to determine the amount of energy obtained from cup plant cultivated under different conditions, when subject to the gasification process in a special membrane gasifier, as well as to determine the amount of pollutants formed during its thermochemical conversion, including the phytotoxicity of liquid waste obtained from the process
The results show that with irrigation of objects, the calorific value of obtained syngas calculated per cultivation surface unit is similar independently of the fertilization level (Figure 5)
Summary
Biomass can be transformed directly into heat or energy via thermochemical conversion processes [1]. The substrates used in these transformations include wood, agricultural and herbaceous biomass, marine biomass, human and animal waste, and contaminated and industrial waste biomass [2]. Plant biomass, including energy crops, is the basic source of renewable energy in many countries around the world. Such crops should be characterized by high annual growth, resistance to disease and pests, low habitat requirements, and adaptation to climate conditions. The production of biofuels from plant biomass requires the cultivation of species with high productivity potential per unit area. An important factor in the cultivation of energy crops is the Energies 2020, 13, 4960; doi:10.3390/en13184960 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
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