Willow Biomass as Energy Feedstock: The Effect of Habitat, Genotype and Harvest Rotation on Thermophysical Properties and Elemental Composition

Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski, Michał Krzyżaniak, Kazimierz Warmiński, Dariusz Załuski and Ewelina Olba-Zięty
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Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski: Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
Michał Krzyżaniak: Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
Kazimierz Warmiński: Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Prawocheńskiego 17, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Dariusz Załuski: Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
Ewelina Olba-Zięty: Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies, Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: Willow biomass is used as a bioenergy source in various conversion technologies. It is noteworthy that apart from the beneficial environmental impact of a willow plantation, the biomass quality is also very important as it has an impact on the effectiveness of its use and emissions produced in various bioenergy technologies. Therefore, this study analysed the thermophysical properties and elemental composition of 15 genotypes of willow biomass from two plantations situated in the north of Poland, harvested in two consecutive three-year rotations. The differences in the moisture content, ash content and the lower heating value were mainly determined by the genotype, i.e., by genetic factors. In contrast, the content of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and hydrogen was determined by the location (environmental factors), but also by the genotype, and by a combination of these factors. The following were the mean levels of the willow biomass characteristics, regardless of the location, genotype and harvest rotation: 48.9% moisture content, 1.26% d.m. ash content, 19.4% d.m. fixed carbon, 79.4% d.m. volatile matter, 19.53 MJ kg −1 d.m. higher heating value, 8.20 MJ kg −1 lower heating value, 52.90% d.m. carbon, 6.23% d.m. hydrogen, 0.032% d.m. sulphur, 0.42% d.m. nitrogen. The present research has shown that the selection of the willow genotype is important for the quality of biomass as energy feedstock. However, plantation location, as well as successive harvest rotations, can have a significant impact on the biomass elemental composition.

Keywords: short rotation coppice; Salix; genotype × site interaction; ash content; lower heating value; nitrogen content; sulphur content (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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