Volatile Matter Research Articles

Comparative study of the combustion properties of briquettes produced from blends of mung beans shell, uncarbonized and carbonized sawdust

In this research, the combustion properties of the briquette produced by blending mung beans shell (MBS) with carbonized danta wood sawdust was compared with that of the briquette produced by blending MBS with uncarbonized danta wood sawdust. The briquettes wereproduced atdifferentsawdust to biomass ratios (100%:0, 70%:30%, 50%: 50%, 30%: 70% and 100%:0). Cassava starch was used as a binder. Proximate analysis (moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and fixed carbon) and combustion properties (calorific value, ignition time, burning time, burning rate, specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency) were calculated using standard methods. The results of the analyses showed that 100% sawdust briquette samples had the lowest moisture content, 4.74±0.00 for carbonized sawdust and 6.76±0.02 for uncarbonized sawdust.100% uncarbonized and carbonized sawdust briquette samples had a fixed carbon of 68.93±0.02 and 87.46%, Ash content:3.70±0.00% and 2.18±0.04%,volatile matter: 20.61±0.00 and 5.61±0.04 and calorific value: 29.401±0.0 MJ/Kg and 32.532±0.05 MJ/Kg respectively.The ignition time increase with increase in biomass load for uncarbonized sawdust samples and decrease with increase in biomass load for carbonized sawdust briquette samples. The burning time decreased from 86±0.57mins (70% sawdust + 30% biomass) to 70±0.57mins (100% biomass) for the carbonized sawdust briquette samples and for the uncarbonized, it ranged from 68±0.00 (70% sawdust + 30% biomass) to 71.6±0.57 mins (30% sawdust + 70% biomass) and then dropped to 68±0.57(100% biomass load). The burning rate decreased in carbonizedbriquette samples and increased in uncarbonized briquette samples with increase in biomass load. The specific fuel consumption for carbonized and uncarbonized sawdust briquette sample decreased with increase in MBS load. 100% carbonized and uncarbonized sawdust briquette samples had a thermal efficiency of 8.78 and 16.47 respectively. It can be concluded that blend of carbonized sawdust and mung beans shell will make a better fuel due to better combustion properties than the uncarbonized sawdust samples.

A master plot approach on rice husk decomposition through pyrolysis and kinetic elucidation using iso-conversional models

The present study aimed at predicting the intricate mechanism followed by the pyrolysis of locally available rice husk, uses noval modified master plots through continuous slope-based differential techniques. An average apparent activation energy was found in the range of 187.29 (KAS model) and 199.85 kJ mol−1 (OFW model), respectively. The rice husk revealed higher volatile matter; 54.51 wt-%, HHV; 18.42 MJ kg−1and a critical pyrolysis zone around 250 to 550 °C with two sharp peaks through differential thermogravimetric analysis. Using Karl–Pearson correlation, experimental curve showed highest correlation coefficient of 0.94 and 0.75 with respect to A2 and A3 models (Avrami–Erofeev) for g( α). However, for Z( α), the process is limited by first-order multi-diffusion processes (D1) coupled with solid phase surface reaction (F3) showing correlation coefficient of 0.8. The experimental data worked out the generalized model of f( α) as f( α) = 12.74 α3 – 24 α2 + 12.6 α - 0.92 with R2 value of 0.99, narrating the usage of master plots for better understanding of the process.

Effect of Goat Dung, Saboak and Corn Cobs Charcoal Mixture on the Physicochemical Properties of Biochar Briquettes

The experiment goals to investigate the physicochemical properties of biochar briquette mixed of goat dung, saboak shell and corn cob charcoal. Research used a completely randomized design with 4 different treatments were: P1 = 25% of goat dung + 75% saboak shell charcoal; P2 = 25% of goat dung + 50% saboak shell + 25% corn cob charcoal; P3 = 25% of goat dung + 25% saboak shell + 50% corn cobs charcoal; P4 =25% of goat dung + 75% corn cobs charcoal. Variables measured included yield, density, moisture, ash, calorific value, volatille matter and fixed carbon. Data were analyzed according to the statistic analysis procedure. The mean values obtained were yield 57.54%; density 0.62 g/cm3; moisture 4.67%; ash 16.93%; calorific value 5198.75 cal/g; volatile matter 25.18%; fixed carbon 53.23%. The results of variance analysis showed that the treatment had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on density and calorific value but not significant (P>0.05) on yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon. It can be concluded that using of corn cobs as substitute of saboak shell ini briquettes making blend of goat manure can be improve the calorific value, with similar ini yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon. The best characteristic of briquettes find out in mixing of 25% goat manure + 25% saboak shell + 50% corn cobs.

Greenhouse gas mitigation and soil carbon stabilization potential of forest biochar varied with biochar type and characteristics

Biochar is increasingly used in climate-smart agriculture, yet its impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil carbon (C) sequestration remains poorly understood. This study examined biochar-mediated changes in soil properties and their contribution to C stabilization and GHG mitigation by evaluating four types of biochar. Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, soil chemical and biological properties, and soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization kinetics were monitored using greenhouse, laboratory, and modeling experiments. Three pine wood biochars pyrolyzed at 460 °C (PB-460), 500 °C (PB-500), 700 °C (PB-700), and one pine bark biochar from gasification at 760 °C (GB-760) were added into soil at 1 % w/w basis. Soils amended with biochar were used to cultivate sorghum for three months in a greenhouse, followed by three months of laboratory incubation. Data obtained from laboratory incubation was modeled using various statistical approaches. The PB-500 and PB-700 reduced cumulative N2O-N emissions by 68.5 % and 73.9 % and CO2 equivalent C emissions by 66.9 % and 72.4 %, respectively, compared to unamended control. The N2O emissions were positively associated with soil nitrate N, available P, and biochar ash content while negatively associated with SOC. The CO2 emission was negatively related to biochar C:N ratio and volatile matter content. Biochar amended soils had 49.2 % (PB-500) to 87.7 % (PB-700) greater SOC and 22.9 % (PB-700) to 48.1 % (GB-760) greater sorghum yield than the control. While PB-700 had more saprophytes than the control, the GB-760 yielded a greater yield than biochars prepared by pyrolysis. Microbial biomass C was 7.23 to 23.3 % greater in biochar amended soils than in control. The double exponential decay model best explained the dynamics of C mineralization, which was associated with initial soil nitrate N and available P positively and total fungi and protozoa biomass negatively. Biochar amendment could be a climate smart agricultural strategy. Pyrolysis pine wood biochar showed the greatest potential to reduce GHG emissions and enhance SOC storage and stability, and gasification biochar contributed more to SOC storage and increased crop yield.

Production and emission characterization of briquette for sustainable development: MSW transformation.

Global community is increasingly alarmed by resource depletion and environmental pollution. In light of pressing environmental concerns and depletion of finite resources, the surge in fossil fuel usage has sparked twin crises: dwindling fossil fuel reserves and escalating environmental pollution. The current study introduces a novel approach to minimize waste by transforming it into briquettes suitable for large-scale production. Production of briquettes involves multiple stages, including collection, drying, crushing, screening, blending, compacting, and storage. The main objective of this research is to demonstrate and investigate the physico-mechanical and emission properties of briquettes produced with readily available organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) such as food and garden waste. The physical, mechanical, and elemental characteristics such as calorific value, moisture content, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon, density, compressive strength, and SEM-EDAX were determined. A combustibility test along with emission and water boiling test was also carried out. The MSW briquettes were prepared in a densification system at 130°C temperature and 20MPa. The study's conclusion suggests that the MSW briquette with lignin content of 25-30%, calorific value of 22.53MJ/kg, compressive strength of 14.517 N/mm2, and density of 1124.12kgm-3 could be used to retain energy and lessen the harmful effects of climate change while also enhancing sustainability. Flue gas emissions from burning MSW briquettes in a biomass stove were examined in this study using flue gas analyzer and smoke meter. Furthermore, the generated briquettes exhibit a density of 1124.12kgm-3 which is on par with coal, making them suitable for co-firing in boilers. Likewise, the determined parameters are compared with the biomass briquettes and firewood. Further investigation is required to elevate its quality and economic potential.

Correlation between climatic environment and characteristic components of 14 kinds of huajiao by thermal analysis techniques, GC‐MS and HS‐IMS

AbstractHuajiao (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.) is extensively cultivated in various countries, including China, Korea, and India, owing to its adaptability to diverse environments. This study comprehensively analyzed the volatile substance composition of 14 varieties of red huajiao with distinct geographical origins. Thermal analysis methods, gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), and headspace‐ion mobility chromatography (HS‐IMS) were employed to evaluate the total volatile substance composition and content. The study revealed minor variations in water content, volatile matter content, and fractions among the geographically sourced huajiao samples. Utilizing correlation analysis based on GC‐MS and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA) with HS‐IMS, a robust classification method for the 14 types of huajiao was developed. Applying the variable importance in the projection (VIP) method, seven distinctive components were identified as potential markers for distinguishing the geographical origins of red huajiao. By integrating climatic and topographical factors of the 14 huajiao varieties, the correlation analysis of GC‐MS, and OPLS‐DA classification outcomes from HS‐IMS elucidated the influence of geo‐environmental factors on huajiao components and contents. This research provides insights into the impact of diverse geographic environments on the constituents and characteristics of huajiao. It offers valuable guidance for selecting optimal cultivation locations to enhance huajiao quality, aiding consumers in making informed choices.

Quality of black pellets of charcoal fines produced with different moisture content and drying time

Charcoal fines are co-products of the wood carbonization process, unwanted because they reduce the gravimetric yield of the main product, charcoal. It can be produced due to the carbonization process, during the storage and transport of charcoal. Pelletizing charcoal fines increases the energy density of this material, producing a homogeneous fuel with lower moisture content, enabling burning in equipment with high energy efficiency, in addition to desirable properties in energy products such as high fixed carbon content and low moisture content. This study evaluated the effect of moisture content and drying time on the production of black pellets from charcoal fines bound with rice starch (Oryza sativa) on the physicochemical and mechanical characteristics. Black pellets were produced using two proportions of water (10 or 20%) and a drying time of 4 or 6 hours. Black pellets were evaluated for their proximate analysis, elemental composition, moisture content, size, apparent density, calorific value and energy density. The addition of water did not affect the content of volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon, while the treatment with addition of 20% water and four hours of drying showed a higher moisture content (3.34%). The addition of water allowed for better heat conduction and particle arrangement, producing pellets with a durability greater than 98%. The better arrangement promoted by the addition of 20% water also increased the density of the pellets, resulting in greater energy density. Black pellets can be considered an alternative for residential heating, with T3 treatment (20% - 4h) with a high energy density and better performance in terms of desirable properties for use and commercialization according to the standard EN 14961-6.

Gasification study of Meulaboh coal under limited synthetic air and carbon dioxide environments

Gasification characteristics of Meulaboh coal have been investigated using chemical, petrographical, and thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry (TG-MS) approaches. The coal is classified as sub-bituminous C and dominated by huminite maceral (77% vol.). Based on proximate analysis, the coal comprises 12.56% moisture, 17.36% ash, 38.92% volatile matter, and 31.16% fixed carbon (adb). The coal is low in rank and dominated by reactive maceral. Thus, it is suitable for gasification study. TG-MS measurement revealed that the main pyrolysis product consists of H2O, CO2, and CH4, which generated significantly in slow and fast pyrolysis stages (180-294°C and 194-529°C, respectively). Gasification was performed using limited synthetic air and CO2 environments. TG and DTG thermograms show that gasification using CO2 resulted a higher mass loss rate than that using limited synthetic air. Moreover, gasification in a limited air atmosphere produced higher contents of H2O and CO2, while gasification in a CO2 atmosphere produced primarily CO.

Characterization, performance evaluation and optimization of wheat straw – bagasse blended fuel pellets

This study was carried out to assess the fuel pellets produced from wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse. The wheat straw and bagasse were blended into four ratios including; 10:90, 30:70, 70:30 and 90:10 (wheat straw: bagasse) and developed into fuel pellets. The fuel pellets were characterized to determine the moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content, calorific value, bulk density and mechanical durability. The ignition time, burning rate and specific fuel consumption of the wheat straw – bagasse blended fuel pellets were studied at varying blend ratios (10:90, 30:70, 70:30 and 90:10), moisture contents (9.1%, 10.6%, 12.6% and 14.7%) and raw material particle sizes (2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm and 10 mm). Results indicated that the wheat straw: bagasse blend ratios containing more proportion of bagasse (30:70 and 10:90) recorded a shorter ignition time, higher burning rate and lower specific fuel consumption. Larger raw material particle sizes exhibited shorter ignition time, higher burning rate and specific fuel consumption. Moreso, the fuel pellets with low moisture contents also recorded shorter ignition time, higher burning rate and lower specific fuel consumption. It was concluded that fuel pellets with high quantity of bagasse, large particle sizes and low moisture content demonstrated favorable combustion characteristics. Response surface methodology was used in the optimization so as to determine the optimum combination of blending ratio, moisture content and raw material particle size that would result in the lowest ignition time, highest burning rate and lowest specific fuel consumption. Results indicated that an optimum combination of a wheat straw: bagasse blend ratio of 10:90, moisture content of 14.70% and a particle size of 10.00 mm resulted in the lowest ignition time, highest burning rate and lowest specific fuel consumption.

Liquid Fuel Generation from Onion Shell: An Experimental Approach of Pyrolysis Process

Energy demand is rising over time in both developing and developed countries. Therefore, finding new sources of energy is a prime concern now. For this effort, this paper presents the pyrolysis of onion (Allium cepa) shells in a reactor with a fixed bed for generating alternative liquid fuel. This paper also compares alternative fuel characteristics, including higher heating value, viscosity, density, pour point, and flash point, with conventional petroleum fuels at optimal process conditions. The work adopted pyrolysis to produce liquid fuel at a temperature range of 400–550 °C and utilized LPG to provide a heat source. The liquid product (fuel oil) was collected, and non-condensable gas was flared. The liquid product was tested for various properties, and the results of the analyses show that alternative fuel has a higher heating value of 12.227 MJ/kg, density of 800 kg/m3, viscosity of 4.3 cP at 30 °C, pour point below −6.2 °C, and flash point around 137 °C, with a variation due to the volatile matters. To obtain favorable conditions for pyrolysis, some parameters, including bed temperature, sample quantity, average particle size, and operating time, were varied and analyzed. The physio-chemical properties made the alternative fuels isolated from conventional petroleum fuels due to the variation in distillation temperature. This work shows that the fuel oil generated from the pyrolysis of onion shells could be considered an alternative source of fuel.

MXene/biochar composites for enhanced wastewater reclamation and bioenergy production: A kinetics and thermodynamics study

The study explores the synthesis and utilization of biochar (BC) and multi-layer MXene to MXene/biochar (MB) composites for wastewater treatment. Simultaneously, it also investigates their energy generation potential through biomass and soil property assessments. The integrated column and batch treatments have shown significant results, elevating total dissolved solids from 63.7 to 125.5 mg L-1 with column treatment, while reducing them to 6.37 % and 1.35 % with BC and MB treatment, respectively. BC with high carbon content, demonstrated increased hydrophobicity, which was amplified by the integration of MXene, thereby enhancing its potential for advanced wastewater treatment. Treated wastewater exhibited elevated nutrient concentrations (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Na, and NH4+), promoting the growth of Pennisetum purpureum. WW_B shows promising energy potential, with a higher heating value of 25.03 MJ kg-1 and a lower heating value of 23.57 MJ kg-1. They demonstrated high volatile matter exceeding 70.9 wt. %, and a fixed carbon from 10.02-27.53 wt. %, signifying their potential for efficient conversion and bio-oil yield during pyrolysis. The ultimate analysis emphasized significant carbon, with oxygen content ranging from 43.42-47.78 wt. %., influencing combustion characteristics. MT_B exhibited its suitability for energy production through thermochemical conversion, underlined by its high flammability and low volatile ignition values. In the absence of BC, the Ea ranged from 24.77-77.88 kJ mol-1 in wastewater and from 21.67-69.6 kJ mol-1 in MB treated wastewater. Meanwhile, when soil contained BC and was irrigated with wastewater, the Ea varied from 24.66-80.91 kJ mol-1. In the case of MB treated wastewater, it ranged from 25.01-75.79 kJ mol-1. The research thereby affirms the potential of MB composites to advance water and energy sustainability setting us for broader nexus-based applications.

Detection of Nature and Content of Bioenergy from Aquatic Macro Weeds

The present work highlight the fact that already the recurring cost of biogas is far less than other fuels and use of abundantly available water weeds like Eichhornia, Pistia and Salvinia will further bring down the fuel cost. The final results of the study were confirmed as follows: Among the aquatic weeds tested, Eichhornia generated the highest quantity of biogas in litres per kg volatile matter (236.3) as well as litre/day/litre digester volume (1.4) when retention time was maximum in hot season. This was closely followed by Pistia in the descending order, while Salvinia registered the least quantity. Values in the case of cow dung (control) for same parameters were 186 and 0.73 respectively. Gas production rates varied with variation in retention time and loading rates.

Pyrolysis behaviour of ultrafiltration polymer composite membranes (PSF/PET): Kinetic, thermodynamic, prediction modelling using artificial neural network and volatile product analysis

This study aims to explore the feasibility of managing ultrafiltration polymer composite membranes (UPCM) waste and converting it into valuable chemicals and energy products using a pyrolysis process. The thermal decomposition experiments were performed on polysulfone (PSF)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes using thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The vapors generated during the thermochemical process were analyzed under different heating rate conditions using TG-FTIR and GC/MS. In addition, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the pyrolysis process were determined using conventional modeling methods and artificial neural network (ANN) method. The results demonstrated that the PSF/PET feedstock exhibits ahigh volatile matter content (77 % wt.%), which can be completely decomposed up to 600 °C by 79 wt%. While TG-FTIR analysis showed that the released vapors contained aromatic groups and benzoic acid (89.21 wt% at 15˚C/min) as the main GC/MS compound. Moreover, the kinetic analysis demonstrated complete decomposition of the membranes at a lower activation energy (151 kJ/mol). Meanwhile, the ANN model exhibited high performance in predicting the degradation stages of PSF/PET membranes under unknown heating conditions. This approach shows potential for modeling the thermal decomposition of ultrafiltration composite membranes more broadly.

Thermogravimetric Analysis of Eucalyptus Leaves as An Alternative Fuel for Rural Areas

The utilization of biomass waste as a substitute for conventional energy sources has gained popularity, and one possible source is the litter generated by eucalyptus plantations. The present study used thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) gain insight into the thermochemical characteristics of eucalyptus leaves. It was identified by heating the sample in a nitrogen environment from ambient temperature to 850oC at a rate of 10 oC/minute. Eucalyptus leaves have a high volatile matter (VM) content and a calorific value (CV) of 17.26 MJ/kg, according to the ultimate and proximate analysis. Additionally, the TGA results showed that eucalyptus leaves had a lower ignition temperature than other biomasses. Eucalyptus leaves began to devolatilize at 119 oC, reaching a peak temperature of 326 oC, and losing 68% of their weight as a result.

Low-carbon fuel reburning for CO2 and NOx reduction in pulverized coal firing system

Using low- or zero-carbon fuels is necessary to reduce CO2 emissions. Gas reburning technology can be applied to existing coal boilers to reduce not only CO2 but also NOx emissions. In this study, we confirmed the gas reburning effect using lab-scale equipment based on the consumption coal used in real-scale boilers, with the aim of practical application. Bituminous coal was used as the reference fuel, and sub-bituminous coal was blended to determine whether coal blending has an effect on NOx emissions. This was conducted to optimize the coal blending ratio and gas reburning technology for NOx emission reduction and quantify the NOx reduction by the two methods. Blending sub-bituminous coal reduced the unburned carbon (UBC) content, because of its high volatile matter content. Moreover, NOx emissions decreased as the ratio of sub-bituminous coal increased. In terms of the reburning effect, although UBCs increased with the addition of methane, NOx emission decreased by up to 96.05 %. The conversion ratio, defined as the NOx formation ratio of the total fuel N injection, was used to separate the NOx reduction effects of the two methods. Thus, gas reburning in the ammonia co-firing system of coal-fired power plants can significantly reduce NOx emissions.

Comprehensive characterization of unscientifically disposed municipal solid waste (MSW) in Kashmir Region, India.

Unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a common practice in Kashmir. To have an environmentally friendly and sustainable waste management system, MSW was collected from nine study locations of this region. They were air-dried, then oven-dried at 105°C for 24h, segregated, and characterized for various components. The overall average organic waste was > 55%, plastic waste about 17%, inert material about 10%, paper 9%, and cloth waste 7%. The calorific value of paper and plastic wastes exhibited was 4910kcal/kg, while organic waste had a calorific value of 1980kcal/kg. The proximate analysis showed that the moisture content ranged from 16 to 29%, volatile matter ranged from 49 to 72%, ash content ranged from 0.03 to 5%, and fixed carbon ranged from 5 to 20%. In S7, the volatile matter content recorded the lowest value at 49.15%, while in S5, the volatile matter content was notably higher at 71.84%, indicating easier ignition. Further, elemental analysis revealed that the major elements in MSW were carbon and oxygen, 53% and 37%, respectively, with small traces of heavy metals with an average of 0.02% cadmium (Cd) and 0.006% lead (Pb). Moreover, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs provided confirmation that the majority of components in the MSW exhibited either partial or complete degradation, resulting in a rough surface texture. In addition, the presence of silica and other silicate groups was also detected. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed that the main functional groups were alcohol. In the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, all the major mineral phases were detected between 20 and 30° 2θ, except for the peaks at 50-60° 2θ in S3 and S9 where catalysts such as zeolite Y and zeolite X were detected. Overall, the MSW had low moisture content but higher calorific value, making it a viable feedstock.

Prediction of HGI of South African coalfields: a comparative application of ANN, SVR and LSTM models

ABSTRACT Hardgrove grindability index (HGI) is a significant index used to determine a mill’s capability and overall efficiency in the grinding of coal. There are several factors that affect HGI due to the complex nature of coal. The influence of proximate analysis, calorific value, total sulfur, and pyrite content on the HGI values of 292 coal samples from South African coalfields were examined. Predictive models of HGI are developed by using soft computing techniques such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), support vector regression (SVR), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). This study shows that ANN is the most effective predictive model for all the three coalfields, with SVR models being second and LSTM models being the least effective. The correlation between the predicted value and the input data is established by using the cosine amplitude method (CAM). It was found that HGI is most influenced by the fixed carbon content, calorific value, ash content and volatile matter content while pyrite has the least influence.

Characterization of hypersaline Oklahoma native microalgae cultivated in flowback and produced water: growth profile and contaminant removal.

This work explores the potential of three hypersaline native microalgae strains from Oklahoma, Geitlerinema carotinosum, Pseudanabaena sp., and Picochlorum oklahomensis, for simultaneous treatment of flowback (FW) and produced wastewater (PW) and the production of algal biomass. The quality of wastewater before and after treatment with these microalgae strains was evaluated and a characterization of algal biomass in terms of moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash contents was assessed. The experimental results indicated how all the microalgae strains were able to grow in both FW and PW, revealing their potential for wastewater treatment. Although algal biomass production was limited by nutrient availability both in PW and FW, a maximum biomass concentration higher than 1.35g L-1 were achieved by the three strains in two of the PWs and one of the FWs tested, with Pseudanabaena sp. reaching nearly 2g L-1. Interestingly, higher specific growth rates were obtained by the two cyanobacteria strains G. carotinosum and Pseudanabaena sp. when cultivated in both PW and FW, compared to P. oklahomensis. The harvested algal biomass contained a significant amount of energy, even though it was significantly reduced by the very high salt content. The energy content fell within the recommended range of 16-17MJ kg-1 for biomass as feedstock for biofuels. The algal treatment resulted in the complete removal of ammonia from the wastewater and a significant reduction in contaminants, such as nitrate, phosphate, boron, and micronutrients like zinc, manganese, and iron.

Impact of cultivation conditions on physicochemical characteristics of Miscanthus × giganteus biomass

AbstractMiscanthus × giganteus has emerged as a successful energy crop for remediating marginal land, offering potential as an alternative energy source for climate change mitigation. This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties for gasification of Miscanthus × giganteus biomass from plantations with diverse soil origins, characteristics, contamination levels, age, and climate conditions, aiming to determine their influence on the energy properties. Fuel parameters, i.e.: ash content, volatile matter, calorific value, ultimate analysis, and ash melting behavior were measured. Analysis of biomass samples revealed significant variations in the ash content and volatile matter with the average values of 4.5 and 78.8%, respectively, depending of the produced biomass. The calorific value remained consistently high, ranging from 18 to 19 MJ kg−1, even when biomass was derived from the contaminated soil. Additionally, biomass ash exhibited complete melting at temperatures exceeding 1300 °C, signifying its suitability for gasification without encountering technical obstacles. Employing PCA analysis, the significance of plantation age, location, and soil characteristics in shaping the physicochemical properties of Miscanthus × giganteus biomass for gasification was highlighted. The results illustrated that soil contamination by trace elements had a minimal impact on the physicochemical properties, whereas plantation age and climate conditions significantly influenced to the fuel properties of biomass.

Predicting a Higher Heating Value for Torrefied Kesambi Leaf Biobriquettes through Ultimate Analysis

The escalating global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions has led to the emergence of biomass-derived fuels, such as biobriquettes, as feasible substitutes for traditional fossil fuels. Kesambi leaves, which are abundant in Southeast Asia and boast a high calorific value, represent a promising prospect for the production of biobriquettes. In this investigation, a conclusive analytical method is employed to construct a predictive framework for estimating the Higher Heating Value (HHV) of torrefied kesambi leaf biobriquettes. By incorporating ash content (PS), volatile matter (BR), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) percentages, alongside experimental HHV data, through multiple linear regression and elemental composition data acquired from proximal analysis, the model aims to forecast HHV. The model’s modest positive Mean Bias Error (MBE) and satisfactory Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) suggest a good fit. The substantial R-squared value indicates the model’s capability to adeptly capture HHV variability. Ultimately, this approach grounded in fundamental principles contributes significantly to the sustainable exploitation of biomass resources by providing a pragmatic and effective technique for predicting HHV for kesambi leaf biobriquettes.