Bulk Density Values Research Articles

Physical Quality of Tomato Powder (Lycopersicum Esculentum Mill.) Produced by Foam-Mat Drying Method Using Convection Oven

Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentumMill.) have a fairly low shelf life, therefore further processing is needed to increase the shelf life and economic value of tomatoes, one of which is by processing it into tomato powder. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical quality of tomato powder produced from foam drying in a convection oven at different temperature variations and concentrations of Tween 80. This research method used a completely randomized design with two treatment variables, namely temperature and concentration of foaming agent Tween 80. The temperatures used were 60, 70, and 80°C while the concentration of Tween 80 used was 0.4; 0.7; and 1.0%. Data analysis used a two-way ANOVA test followed by the Duncan test and correlation test. The physical quality parameters of tomato powder showed values of the fineness modulus ranging from 1.19 – 1.77; the grain size value ranges from 0.0094 – 0.0141 mm; powder moisture content values range from 5.36 – 6.48%bb; L values range from 76.20 – 79.01; a value ranges from 12.51 – 14.81; b values range from 18.21 – 21.73; bulk density values range from 0.56 – 0.63 g/cm3; oil absorption value ranges from 0.85 – 0.89 ml/g; angle of repose values range from 33.65 – 36.09°. The temperature difference affects the fineness modulus, grain size, and moisture content. While the difference in the concentration of Tween 80 affects the color parameters (L, a, b), bulk density, and angle of repose. Keywords: Drying, Foaming agent, Physical Quality, Temperature, Tomatoes.

Effect of cover crops and tillage systems on soil quality and sugarcane yield

AbstractThe management adopted in the establishment and replanting of sugarcane fields, with conventional tillage followed by fallow, is one of the main causes of soil quality degradation. In this context, the soil quality index (SQI) is an important tool to guide the use of more sustainable practices and management. This study aimed to monitor the effect of different cover crops in association with different tillage systems on sugarcane yield based on key indicators and an SQI developed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). The experiment was carried out on a sugarcane expansion area located in the municipality of Ibitinga, São Paulo, Brazil. The following soil physical and chemical attributes were analyzed: soil bulk density, macroaggregates, available phosphorus and potassium. Soil carbon content was also analyzed and used to calculate the SQI. Productivity over the 4 years of sugarcane cultivation was also analyzed. The use of subsoilers for soil tillage proved efficient in managing compaction by providing lower soil bulk density values in the first years of cultivation (1.59 and 1.63 g cm−3); however, these effects occurred in the short term with a 10% increase in later years. The use of millet in association with subsoiling showed the best results for soil quality (0.59), reflected in the maintenance of yields at 100 Mg ha−1 over time. Thus, our study reinforces the importance of using soil conservation systems in sugarcane replanting areas to achieve production longevity.

Assessing the Impact of Gully Erosion on Soil Fertility in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State

This study explores the impact of gully erosion on soil fertility in Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. A systematic sampling procedure was employed, involving composite soil samples collected at varying depths (0 – 15 cm, 15 – 30 cm, and 30 – 45 cm). Physical and chemical analyses were conducted on these samples, and statistical analysis, utilizing the coefficient of variation (CV), was applied to the data. Results revealed that sand fractions dominated the surface horizons in all pedons studied, ranging from 74.10% to 80.60%. Silt content showed irregular accumulation down the profile depth, ranging from 5.00% to 6.00%. Clay content, ranging from 14.40% to 20.40%, decreased down the profile depth, indicating potential illuviation and pedoturbation processes. Bulk density values within the rooting zone were optimal for plant production. Particle size distribution suggested that the studied soils fell within the sandy loam textural class, except for one profile identified as sandy clay loam. Soil pH (H2O) and pH (KCl) indicated highly acidic conditions. Organic carbon content was critically low, and total nitrogen levels were also critically low according to fertility ratings. Available phosphorus ranged from low to moderate levels, while calcium dominated the exchange complexes. Magnesium levels were high, potentially contributing to unstable soil structural arrangements. Potassium content was categorized as moderate, while sodium content was rated moderate with implications for soil fertility. Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) was moderate, reflecting the general low organic matter content in the soil series. Base saturation indicated high values, suggesting minimal leaching of plant nutrients. In conclusion, the study identifies the complex interplay of soil properties affected by gully erosion, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to improve soil fertility.

Effect of soil and water conservation practices and slope gradient on organic carbon stocks micronutrients: A case study on Kulkullessa sub-watershed, Eastern Ethiopia

Soil degradation in sub-Saharan Africa is a serious problem that causes declines in agricultural productivity linked to hunger and poverty. The study was conducted in the Kulkullessa sub-watershed of Goro Gutu District in Eastern Ethiopia to assess the effects of climate-smart soil and water conservation (SWC) practices and slope gradient on selected physicochemical properties of the soil and the soil’s organic carbon stocks. The farmland conserved by stone bund (SB), bench terrace (BT), and gras strip (GS) five years after construction with two slope gradients (15-20%) and (21-30%) was selected. Twenty-four composite soil samples were collected from a depth of 20 cm and tested in the Haramaya University soil laboratory. The study found that climate-smart SWC practices were very effective on the soil physicochemical properties and soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) of the study area. Similarly, the slope gradient brought considerable variation in soil physicochemical properties and soil organic carbon stock. On farmland that a bench terrace had preserved, the bulk density (BD) value was lower. The recorded value for total porosity on the farmland conserved by BT was also positively higher and significant (p ≤ 0.05). Likewise, the higher mean values for micronutrients and SOCS were recorded on farmlands conserved by SB, BT, and GS in contrast to the values recorded on non-conserved farmland (NCF) in the study area. Based on the study findings, climate-smart soil water and conservation practices have outstanding potential for improving soil physicochemical properties essential for agricultural crop production, climate change adaptation, and strengthening smallholder farmers’ resilience.

Green Extraction of Pectin from Sugar Beet Flakes and Its Application in Hydrogels and Cryogels.

Sugar beet flakes, a by-product of the sugar industry, were used as a source for pectin extraction that was performed using conventional citric acid extraction (CE) and two non-conventional extraction techniques-microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE). The influence of extraction conditions was studied for each technique based on pectin yield and galacturonic acid content, and spectroscopic, chromatographic and colorimetric methods were used for pectin characterization. Better results for pectin yield were achieved through CE (20.80%), while higher galacturonic acid content was measured in pectin extracted using PUAE (88.53 g/100 g). Pectin extracted using PUAE also presented a higher degree of methylation and acetylation. A significant increase in the molecular weight of pectin was observed for the PUAE process (7.40 × 105 g/mol) by comparison with conventional extraction (1.18 × 105 g/mol). Hydrogels and cryogels prepared with pectin from sugar beet flakes also showed differences in physicochemical parameters determined by the method of pectin extraction. Hydrogels had higher bulk density values irrespective of the pectin extraction method, and overall lower values of the textural parameters. Cryogels prepared with pectin from CE showed higher values of the textural parameters of hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness, while gels obtained with pectin from MAE and PUAE had higher thermal stability. The results of this study prove that sugar beet flakes can be considered a potential source for pectin production, and the extracted pectin is suitable for obtaining hydrogels and cryogels with physicochemical parameters comparable to the commercial citrus and apple pectin available on the market.

Effects of Land Fires on Peat Soil Characteristics in Landasan Ulin District, Banjarbaru City

Peat is a type of soil that has a dry condition, which causes it to burn easily. When the peat is burned, the spread of fire will occur very quickly until it reaches the ground, because peat soil does not contain solid soil, but branches, grass, and tree debris. Even though the fire on the surface has been extinguished, the fire that is in the inner layer is not necessarily extinguished. This study aims to determine the effect of land fires on the characteristics of peat soil in Landasan Ulin District, Banjarbaru City, including the physical and chemical properties of the peat soil. This research uses quantitative methods with a descriptive approach. Primary data in this study include: texture, color, bulk density (BD), soil structure, pH, and nutrients. Primary data collection was in the form of field surveys by looking at peatlands and the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil with 14 samples taken at 7 sample points. The results showed that on peatlands that had been burned, there was an increase in the value of BD, pH, and soluble Fe so that the potential for absorbing and distributing water was low, and plant roots were difficult to absorb nutrients. Organic C content also decreased, causing soil fertility to decrease.

Valorization of gypsum waste for the cleaner production of a novel ettringite-based binder

The utilization of gypsum waste (GyW) as an additive for alkali-activated materials has already been addressed. However, using GyW as a partial replacement for aluminosilicate during the alkali-activation process is not sufficient for the full disposal of such waste. Accordingly, this communication focused on full transforming GyW from fertilizers industry into a novel AFt-binder using an eco-friendly method. Various amounts of NaAlO2 were added to gypsum waste (GyW) to yield a hardened binder with a considerable mechanical property. The findings demonstrated that NaAlO2 readily reacted with GyW to produce an AFt-based binder. The highest values for compressive strength, bulk density, and volume expansion were observed at a NaAlO2/GyW ratio of 0.2. This corresponded to the complete conversion of GyW into needle-shaped AFt crystals with a larger diameter compared to those formed in other mixtures. Notably, all hardened mixtures attained their optimum performance after 24 h, and further extension of the curing time did not yield any additional benefits. Consequently, this innovative binder has the potential to be employed as a fast-setting, energy-efficient cement for repair applications.

Spark Plazma Sinterlenmiş Cu-SiC Kompozitlerinin Fiziko-Mekanik ve Elektriksel Özelliklerinin Değerlendirilmesi

In this study, SiC reinforced Cu matrix composites were produced by spark plasma sintering to provide rapid consolidation and to prevent weak interfacial bonding and grain growth, undesired phases at the interphase region. In addition, the influence of the reinforcement ratio (vol.% 10, 20, 30) and particle sizes (1, 11, 24 µm) on the physico-mechanical (density, hardness) and electrical characteristics of copper composite materials was aimed. The bulk density values were determined by Archimedes’ method, SEM, EDS, and XRD analysis were used to identify microstructural factors and phase analysis. It was found that the selection of the appropriate sintering regime is very important for composite samples to reach nearly fully dense Cu-SiC composites with proper interfacial bonding between Cu and SiC grains without the formation of any undesired phases, results in very high relative density (min. 99.48%), low total porosity (0,15-0,52), good hardness (HV 122-186) and electrical conductivity. When fine SiC grains (~1 micron) are used and the amount of SiC increases, the hardness value of the composites was effectively improved without much loss in electrical conductivity. In this respect, this study provides an effective solution for the production of Cu-SiC composites with excellent combined performance.

EVALUATION OF BAKING QUALITY OF BREAD FROM COMPOSITE MIXTURE OF WHEAT FLOUR AND P-GLABRA SEED FLOUR

Pachira glabra is one of the abundant underutilized plants in the tropics. The seeds were processed into flour. A sample of the flour were evaluated for physicochemical composition, functional properties, baking test and the bread produced were subjected to sensory analysis. The results of proximate analysis showed that P. glabra flour had significantly higher total fat content, Crude fiber and total ash content (P>0.05), but with lower values of other components when compared with the white wheat flour. The anti – nutrient properties of P. glabra flour such as; Tannins, Phytates, Oxalates and Alkaloids were obtained to be; 3.29, 6.99, 3.74 and 1.98 mg/100g respectively. The functional properties of P. glabra flour had significantly higher in WAC, and swelling capacity (P>0.05), but with lower values of forming capacity and OAC, both the two samples had the same value of bulk density. P. glabra flour may find its use in food industry. The volume of the bread obtained after baking test showed a decrease of bread volume with an increase in P. glabra flour substitution. The results of Sensory evaluation gotten from the panelist were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and there was significant difference in colour, aroma and overall acceptability but no significant difference in taste, and texture.

Experimental Study on Workability of Natural Aggregate Concrete Incorporated with Crumb Rubber

This study investigated the effect of crumb rubber on the workability of fresh concrete. Crumb rubber was used to replace fine aggregate at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 25%. Physical properties (particle size gradation, specific gravity, bulk density and aggregate impact value) of the aggregates: sharp sand, Bida natural stone and crumb rubber were determined. Furthermore, the sharp sand and Bida natural stone used for this research were characterized as normal weight aggregates while the crumb rubber was characterized as a light weight aggregate. Workability of the concrete in its fresh state was extensively studied. Generally, the workability of fresh concrete reduced as the crumb rubber increased from 0% to 25%. The reduction in slump values was adduced to the absorbent nature of the crumb rubber. Hence, the research recommended a water-to-cement ratio of 0.55 – 0.60 for use in the production of concrete containing crumb rubber. It was concluded that crumb rubber can be used to produce low workability concrete for use in mass concrete foundations, lightly reinforced concrete elements and roads.

Ecotoxicological soil risk assessment under the new soil exposure framework – an impact assessment

For the European risk assessment (RA) for soil organisms exposed to plant protection products (PPPs) endpoints from ecotoxicological laboratory studies are compared with predicted environmental concentrations in soil (PECSOIL) at first tier. A safety margin must be met; otherwise, a higher tier RA is triggered (usually soil organism field studies). A new tiered exposure modeling guidance was published by EFSA to determine PECSOIL. This work investigates its potential impact on future soil RA. PECSOIL values for >50 active substances and metabolites were calculated and compared with the respective endpoints for soil organisms to calculate the RA failure rate. Compared to the current (FOCUS) exposure modeling, PECSOIL values for all EU regulatory zones considerably increased, e.g., resulting in active substance RA failure rates of 67%, 58% and 36% for modeling Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3A, respectively. The main driving factors for elevated PECSOIL were soil bulk density, crop interception and wash-off, next to obligatory modeling and scenario adjustment factors. Spatial PECSOIL scenario selection procedures result in agronomically atypical soil characteristics (e.g., soil bulk density values in Tier-3A scenarios far below typical European agricultural areas). Consequently, exposure modeling and ecotoxicological study characteristics are inconsistent, which hinders scientifically reasonable comparison of both in the RA.

Assessment of the extent of soil degradation over different land uses in the Kebbi area, northwestern Nigeria

This paper assessed soil degradation over land use in the Kebbi area, Northwestern Nigeria. The specific objectives entailed identifying major forms of soil loss in the study area, estimating soil loss, and examining the responses of soil physico-chemical properties over dominant land use types. Slope angles were determined using a GPS, a handheld Abney level, ranging poles, and a 30 m measuring tape while gully depths, widths, and lengths were taken at 5 m-30 m intervals. Key soil physico-chemical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation were used to summarize the data generated from the study. The analysis of variance and the student’s t-test were used to test for significant association between and within pairs of land uses. The results show that slopes range from 4⁰ - 16⁰, while the magnitude of soil loss ranged between 3580.32 m3 in K1 (Kalgo 1), 3550.89 m3 in G2 (Goru 2) and 161.01 m3 in A1 (Angwar Daji 1). Results show significance at p≤ 0.05 in bulk density values over the different land uses, with the highest bulk density value of 1.78 g/cm3 in badland and the lowest value of 1.35 g/cm3 in plantation land use. Total nitrogen ranges between 0.01 – 0.38%, with the lowest values in badland and scrubland, while soil base saturation is highest over plantation (76.3%) and lowest in badland (50.4%). The study concludes that the dominant geomorphic responses identified in the study area are gully initiation and development and varying amounts of soil degradation over the different land uses. The findings should facilitate policy initiation to rehabilitate degraded lands and adopt sustainable soil management practices like tree planting while linking geomorphological information to infrastructural planning and development.

Harnessing Untapped Resources for Sustainable Energy Production from Municipal Solid Waste in Recourse Challenged Economies: A Case Study of Rajshahi City Corporation, Bangladesh

The sustainable management of municipal solid waste is of utmost importance for cities in Bangladesh, including Rajshahi City, which faces unique challenges due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and population expansion. This study aimed to gain insights into waste generation patterns and characteristics in Rajshahi by analyzing factors like moisture content, bulk density, dry density, and calorific value of municipal solid waste at the Rajshahi landfill site. The objective was to identify the most feasible method for waste characterization and segregation. The research methodology utilized a comprehensive approach, incorporating field surveys, laboratory analyses, and statistical modeling to create an energy matrix and assess the potential for waste-to-energy production in Rajshahi City. This study aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to waste and energy management, including SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy - by exploring waste-to-energy options. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - by addressing waste management challenges in a rapidly urbanizing area. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - by promoting sustainable waste management practices. SDG 13: Climate Action - by potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions through efficient waste-to-energy conversion. Overall, this research contributes to Rajshahi City's efforts to achieve sustainable development while addressing its waste and energy needs by converting its 75.8% organic waste to electricity using an anaerobic digester.

Analyzing the Influence of Conservation Tillage and Manure on Soil Parameter Modulations in Croplands.

Nowadays, when the human impact on the environment becomes prominent daily, specific steps are needed to mitigate or halt those changes. By far, agricultural land is most affected by the degradation process, leading to soil erosion and decreased soil quality. Sustainable measures are needed to find a solution to that problem. This study, located in an agricultural area in northwestern Croatia, gives an insight into how different tillage systems (conventional and conservation) with the addition of manure will affect soil physicochemical properties, hydrology response, and overall yield. To assess hydrological response, a rainfall simulator was used; meanwhile, soil samples were taken to determine bulk density, soil water content, water-stable aggregates, and soil organic matter. Soil water content did not show significant differences, whereas bulk density and penetration resistance yielded significantly higher values at 15-30 cm depth compared to 0-15 cm depth. Also, the conservation manure recorded lower bulk density and penetration resistance values than conventional tilled treatments. Water-stable aggregates and soil organic matter were severely affected by manure addition and yielded an increase after harvest. Hydrological response was delayed for the treatments with manure addition. Crop yield was also significantly higher for the conventional treatment with manure addition, whereas the control plots had lower yields. The results of this study show the positive aspects of conservation tillage, especially with manure addition, where soil quality is preserved or even increased.

Effects of binders and die geometry on quality of densified rice bran using a screw-type laboratory scale pelleting machine

Cellulosic biomass could solve environmental challenges posed by utilization of fossil fuels. Biomass needs to be processed through densification to ease handling, transport and storage. This study considered the densification of rice bran into pellets using a screw-type pelleting machine. Investigations determined the effect of the starch binder quantity, compression ratio and die configuration on the properties of the pellets. The bulk density, pellet length, pellet density, compressive strength, durability and higher heating value of the rice bran pellets ranged between 254 and 367 kg/m3, 16.85 to 39.90 mm, 283.42 and 793.87 kg/m3, 1.68 and 8.31 N/mm2, 89.06 and 98.32 %; and 16.54 to 17.30 MJ/kg. The binder quantity significantly determined the length of the rice bran pellets. The bulk density was significantly influenced by binder quantity, die type and compression ratio. The higher heating value of the rice bran pellets was significantly influenced by the compression ratio and binder quantity. The study established that interactions of the variables considered had influence on the pellet length and bulk density of pellets.

Dynamics of soil quality in a conserved landscape in the highland sub humid ecosystem, Northwestern Ethiopia

Several studies have assessed the dynamics of soil quality induced by soil and water conservation (SWC), but many showed disagreement over the efficacy of SWC interventions in the Ethiopian highlands. This study used a before and after soil and water conservation practices (SWCP) comparison approach to evaluate the effect of SWCP on soil quality dynamics. Fifty-four composite and 10 undisturbed soil samples were collected in 2012 (before SWCP) and 2022 (after SWCP). Statistical mean, analysis of variance, and principal component analysis were applied to test the significant differences among treatments. The findings demonstrated that SWCP has significantly improved most of the soil quality indicators such as soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, pH, total porosity, field capacity, and available water, and reduced the value of bulk density and coarse fragments. The interaction effect of landscape position and types of structures provided statistically significant results for soil organic matter, total nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, and base saturation. Soil and stone-faced soil bunds treated at lower landscapes were superior in improving soil quality attributes. The soil quality indexing showed, the overall soil quality improvement as a result of SWCP was about 32.15%. The level of improvement for different SWCPs was 32% for stone faced soil bunds and 33% for soil bunds. The findings revealed that SWCP implementation can improve soil quality. Soil organic matter is a key biological quality component that contributed 25% to the soil quality index and highly impacted soil physicochemical properties. We suggest additional assessment of best and integrated land management practices to ensure further improvement in soil quality, crop productivity, and ecosystem services in the subhumid ecosystems.

Fabrication of Sr-feldspar/cordierite and Sr-feldspar/Sr-osumilite composites through sintering of Mg–Sr-cordierite and borosilicate glass for electronic applications

The main objective of this study is to fabricate composite materials having excellent thermal, mechanical and electrical properties for thermal and electronic applications. In this work, strontium feldspar-containing composites (Sr-feldspar/cordierite and Sr-feldspar/Sr-osumilite) were prepared by solid-state sintering of SrO-containing cordierite (MgSrAl4Si5O18)/borosilicate glass powder mixtures. The phase composition, physical properties and microstructure of sintered composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction technique, water displacement method and scanning electron microscope, respectively. Moreover, the thermal expansion coefficient, hardness, and electrical properties were also measured. The results of X-ray patterns revealed the crystallization of Sr-feldspar and cordierite in the composites that contain up to 20% borosilicate glass. On the other hand, the composites that include more than 20% glass, displayed the crystallization of Sr-feldspar and Sr-osumilite with little amount of cristobalite. The bulk density values of sintered composites were decreased from 2.41 to 1.84 g/cm3 with increasing the amount of added glass. The microhardness values were increased from 519 to 710 kg/mm2 with increasing the glass content. Low thermal expansion coefficient (2.65 × 10−6, 2.22 × 10−6, 3.45 × 10−6 and 4.26 × 10−6 K-1 for C0, CG91, CG73, CG55, respectively) and low dialectic constant (7–8.5) were obtained for the prepared composites.

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Topsoil under Different Land Use/Land Cover Types in the Southeast of Spain

Land use plays a crucial role in the stock of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nitrogen (SN). The aim of this study was to assess and characterize the effects of various soil management practices on the physicochemical properties of soil in a Mediterranean region in southeastern Spain. Texture, soil moisture, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, equivalent CaCO3 (%), soil organic matter and carbon, and Kjeldahl nitrogen were determined for the surface topsoil (0–5 cm, 180 samples) under three types of land cover: cropland, grassland, and urban soil. The main soil textures were silt, silt loam, and sandy loam with low percentages of soil moisture in all soil samples and lower bulk density values in cropland and grassland areas. The pH was alkaline and the electrical conductivity as well as the equivalent calcium carbonate content were moderate to high. Organic matter estimated using the LOI and WB methods varied in the order cropland > grassland > urban soil. The results obtained for SOC and SN indicate that cropland presented the highest stocks, followed by grassland and urban soil. The values determined for the C/N ratio were close to 10 in cropland and grassland, indicating that organic matter readily undergoes decomposition at these sites. Our results emphasize the importance of evaluating the effects and identifying the impacts of different soil management techniques, and further research is needed to better understand the potential to improve soil organic carbon and nitrogen storage in semiarid regions.

BULK DENSITY AND COMPACT BULK DENSITY OF RICE BRAN FROM VARIOUS REGENCIES MIXED WITH RICE HUSK


 
 
 Rice bran mixed with rice husk often occurs in the feed industry, as a result of scarcity of rice bran as animal feed. The aim of the study was to study the heap density and compaction density of rice bran obtained from various districts mixed with rice husk. The study was conducted experimentally using a 2-way classification design consis- ting of 4 treatments of rice bran and rice husk mixtures and 5 districts. Data were analyzed by means of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. The results showed that the mixture of rice bran and rice husk in various districts showed significant differences (P<0.05). Adulteration of rice bran by rice husk can be detected by adding 60% rice husk to bulk density and 40% to compact bulk density. The value of compact bulk density is faster in detecting the adulteration of rice bran with rice husk compared to the value of bulk density. The conclusion of this study is that at the level of 40% addition of rice husk, adulteration of rice bran can be determined by measuring the compact bulk density.
 
 

Integrated CO2-hydrothermal carbonization and high temperature steam gasification of bamboo feedstock: A comprehensive experimental study

This study investigated an integrated CO2-hydrothermal carbonization (CO2-HTC) and steam gasification of bamboo feedstock, an abundant biomass in Vietnam. Bamboo underwent CO2-HTC at 240 °C under 100% CO2 atmosphere with a biomass-to-water ratio of 1:4 and a residence time of 60 min. The resulting hydrochar served as feedstock for steam gasification at 900 °C under an atmosphere of 40% H2O and 60% N2. A parallel experiment using raw bamboo provided a basis for comparison. Results indicate notable enhancements in fixed carbon content, bulk density, and higher heating value of bamboo subsequent to CO2-HTC. The CO2-HTC bamboo displayed a higher maximum decomposition rate. Its char also showed quicker conversion, enhancing gasification efficiency. A syngas richer in both H2 and CO by 2% was also produced with CO2-HTC bamboo compared to the raw bamboo. The observed improvements in gasification performance suggest promising avenues for the more effective and sustainable utilization of bamboo in energy production.