Title:
Pre-Treatment of Gorse (Ulex Sp.) to Improve its Qualities as Fuel
Author(s):
Tarelho, L.A.C., Pinho, J.P.R., Duarte, M.A.C., Silva, D.F.R., Silva, J.J.F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Pre-treatment of forest biomass from gorse shrub (Ulex sp.) was done to improve its properties as solid fuel. Gorse fronds were divided into brown and green parts, both arranged in bundles. The bundles of brown parts and green parts was subjected to: i) air drying at room conditions, and ii) leaching with distilled water, followed by air drying at room conditions. Samples from both sets of bundles were characterised for: i) proximate and ultimate analysis, ii) heating value, iii) soluble Kjeldahl nitrogen, iv) soluble chloride, v) total soluble phosphorus, and vi) soluble metals (Na, K, Mg, Ca). The leachates were analysed for conductivity, pH, chemical oxygen demand, Kjeldahl nitrogen, chloride, phosphorus and major metals (Na, K, Mg, Ca). The gorse biomass pre-treatment by leaching followed by air drying allows the improvement of the biomass properties for use as solid fuel due to significant reductions in the green fraction soluble content of: i) chloride (87%), ii) nitrogen (57%), iii) phosphorus (67%), iv) potassium (91%), v) sodium (86%) and ash (55%). The biomass volatile fraction increases by 2% after leaching reaching values up to 84% and the heating value is not reduced thus showing that this treatment produces a better quality biofuel.
Keywords:
shrub biomass, leaching, soluble elements, biomass ash, fuel characteristics
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Biomass residues and by-products
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP1.2.43
Pages:
528 - 534
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP1.2.43
Price:
FREE
