Evaluation of Changes in the Chemical Composition of Grasses as a Result of the Methane Fermentation Process and Biogas Production Efficiency

Bogusława Waliszewska, Hanna Waliszewska, Mieczysław Grzelak, Leszek Majchrzak (), Eliza Gaweł, Maciej Murawski, Agnieszka Sieradzka, Iryna Vaskina and Agnieszka Spek-Dźwigała
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Bogusława Waliszewska: Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 38/42, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Hanna Waliszewska: Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 38/42, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Mieczysław Grzelak: Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-656 Poznan, Poland
Leszek Majchrzak: Agronomy Department, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
Eliza Gaweł: Department of Forage Crop Production, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Maciej Murawski: Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-656 Poznan, Poland
Agnieszka Sieradzka: Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 38/42, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Iryna Vaskina: Department of Biosystem Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 48, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Agnieszka Spek-Dźwigała: Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 38/42, 60-637 Poznań, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-10

Abstract: Methane fermentation, which is one of the key processes in biogas production, plays an important role in the conversion of biomass to energy. During this process, changes occur in the chemical composition of organic feedstocks, including the chemical composition of grasses. The assessment of these changes is crucial for the efficiency and productivity of biogas production. The material for this study comprised fully mature grass blades with leaves and inflorescences and was collected from extensively used meadows and pastures, as well as cultivated and set-aside areas in the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, the communes of Białośliwie and Trzcianka, Poland. The aim of this study was to compare methane fermentation efficiency in nine grass species and identify the biomass component involved in biogas production. The results indicate that the fermentation process, as expected, changed the cellulose content. The lignin content of the grasses before fermentation varied more than the cellulose content. The content of holocellulose (sum of carbohydrate components) in the grasses ranged from 59.77 to 72.93% before fermentation. Methane fermentation significantly reduced the carbohydrate content in the grasses, with a low degree of polymerization. Grassland biomass-based biogas production is a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels.

Keywords: renewable energy; biogas plant; grasses; chemical composition (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: 2024
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