The Quality of Virginia Fanpetals Biomass as an Energy Source, Depending on the Type of Propagating Material and Plantation Age

Abstract

Plant biomass is still the main raw material in the production of energy from renewable sources. Virginia fanpetals may be an alternative and complementary source of solid biomass to that obtained from forests and the wood industry. In this respect, it is important to assess the variability of the qualitative characteristics of Sida biomass as a solid biofuel over a long period of use of a plantation of this species. Three types of propagating material were used to establish the plantation: seeds, root cuttings (rhizomes), and seedlings, at two sowing/planting densities. The quality of the biomass, obtained during 14 consecutive years of harvest, was tested, including the moisture content, ash content, higher heating value (HHV), lower heating value (LHV), and the carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, and nitrogen content. It was found that both thermophysical properties and elemental composition were mostly determined by the years of vegetation. An important role in this respect was played by the juvenile period of the plants’ development. The biomass obtained after 1 year of vegetation contained a larger concentration of ash, nitrogen, and sulfur and less carbon and hydrogen, which reduced its energy value. The results confirm the possibility of obtaining biomass with low moisture, which favorably places it from an energy point of view.