Grey relation analysis of lignocellulose composition and energy consumption of corn stalks

Abstract

Corn stalk is a primary crop residue for biomass used as fuel, feedstock and material. However, it is difficult to transport corn stalk at a low cost due to its wide distribution in China. In this study, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents of 13 different varieties of matured corn stalks from Beijing, Liaoning, Shandong, Hubei, Shanxi and Chongqing were measured. Compression tests were executed by universal testing machine INSTRON 3367. The specific energy consumption at different compression stage was treated as assessment indicator of the energy required. Gray relation analysis was applied in the correlation between the specific energy consumption of corn stalks and the lignocellulose composition. The results showed that different varieties of corn stalks existed highly significant differences among cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents (P<0.05). It was found that hemicellulose and cellulose contents were highly correlated with specific energy consumption of corn stalks, while lignin content of corn stalks had little effect on the specific energy consumption. From a microscopic point of view, correlation degrees of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents associated with the specific energy consumption depended on their region and function in the cell wall.