Estimation of Energy and Emissions Properties of Waste from Various Species of Mint in the Herbal Products Industry

Grzegorz Maj, Agnieszka Najda, Kamila Klimek and Sebastian Balant
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Grzegorz Maj: Department of Power Engineering and Transportation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Gleboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Najda: Department of Vegetable Crops and Medicinal Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-920 Lublin, Poland
Kamila Klimek: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Gleboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Sebastian Balant: Department of Vegetable Crops and Medicinal Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-920 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2019, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: The paper presents the results of research on the physicochemical properties of plant biomass consisting of four mint species, these being Mentha × piperita L. var. citrata Ehrh.—‘Bergamot’, Mentha × rotundifolia L., Mentha spicata L., and Mentha crispa L. The research conducted consisted of the technical analysis of biofuels—determining the heat of combustion and the calorific value of the material under study, and the content of ash, volatile compounds, and humidity. In addition, elemental analysis was carried out for the biomass under study by determining the content of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur. The research demonstrated that Mentha × piperita L. var. citrata Ehrh.—‘Bergamot’ had the highest energy potential with a gross calorific value of 16.96 MJ·kg −1 , and a net calorific value of 15.60 MJ·kg −1 . Among the tested materials, Mentha × rotundifolia L. had the lowest content of ash at 7.23%, nitrogen at 0.23%, and sulfur at 0.03%, and at the same time had the highest content of volatile fraction at 70.36%. When compared to hard coal, the estimated emission factors indicated a CO reduction of 29–32%, CO 2 reduction of 28–31%, NO x reduction of 40–80%, SO 2 reduction of 92–98%, and dust reduction of 45–61%, depending on the type of biomass used.

Keywords: biomass; emission factors; energy; environmental and mechanical engineering; herbs; mint (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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