ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTIES OF COARSE-ENERGY PLANTS

Abstract

In the world, fossil fuel resources are constantly decreasing and increasing energy use. This leads to wider use of biomass in various industrial areas. Also, for the production of heat and electricity. Depending on the situation of current market, much attention is being paid to increasing the potential of biomass and to ensure the needs of users. Recently, much attention is paid to non-food energy plants, which could be used in thermochemical conversion technologies. These plants must be well adapted to climatic conditions, to grow a high biomass yield, to possess high energy value, easy to use for biofuel production and low environmental impact. Having a high energy potential and promising plants for cultivation in a changing climate conditions can be characterized and these plants: this is Miscantus spp. (namely miscanthus), Artemisia dubia Wall. (mugwort) and Cannabis sativa L. (fiber hemp).
The article summarizes long-standing biometric and thermal performance results on Miscantus spp. (namely miscanthus), Artemisia dubia Wall. (mugwort) and Cannabis sativa L. (fiber hemp). In Lithuania climate condition, it is possible to grow from 3.26 to 17.06 t ha^-1 of dry biomass per year from the mentioned plants. The calorific value of biomass has a huge influence on assessment of energy potential from plants. After combustion of 1 kilogram of Miscantus spp., Artemisia dubia Wall. and Cannabis sativa L. biomass it stands out on average 18.3±0.06, 18.5±0.66 and 17.43±0.06 MJ of heat, respectively. An equally important property which assesses the suitability of biomass for biofuels is ash content. The average ash content of biomass from Miscantus spp. and Artemisia dubia Wall was 1.51±0.03 % and 2.69±0.33 %, i.e. 2.22 times and 1.25 times lower than Cannabis sativa L.

Keywords: Artemisia dubia Wall., assessment, biomass, Cannabis sativa L., coarse-energy plants, Miscantus spp.

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2017.190