The Energy Potential of White Mulberry Waste Biomass

Dominika Sieracka, Jakub Frankowski, Agnieszka Łacka, Stanisław Wacławek and Wojciech Czekała ()
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Dominika Sieracka: Department of Bioeconomy, Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Wojska Polskiego 71B, 60-630 Poznan, Poland
Jakub Frankowski: Department of Bioeconomy, Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Wojska Polskiego 71B, 60-630 Poznan, Poland
Agnieszka Łacka: Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Stanisław Wacławek: Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CXI), Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 460 01 Liberec, Czech Republic
Wojciech Czekała: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: White mulberry ( Morus alba L.) is a tree growing up to 15 m in height. It is a plant whose cultivation is historically associated with silk production. Mulberry leaves are the only food source of the mulberry silkworm caterpillars ( Bombyx mori L.). The cultivation of this tree has recently gained renewed importance. Due to the content of numerous bioactive substances, mulberry is a valuable raw material for the food, pharmaceutical and herbal industries. This article presents the results of tests on pellets from 1-, 3- and 5-year-old branches, which are waste biomass remaining after pruning mulberry shrubs cultivated to obtain leaves to feed silkworms. Additionally, analyses of pellets from mulberry leaves were also carried out. For the specified mulberry biomass yield, analyses of chemical composition of mulberry biomass (branches and leaves) were carried out, and energy properties (heat of combustion and calorific value) and energy potential were calculated. The heat of combustion of pellet from mulberry branches was, on average, 19,266 MJ∙Mg −1 , and the calorific value was 17,726 MJ∙Mg −1 . The energy potential, on the other hand, was, on average, 159 GJ∙ha −1 and 44 MWh∙ha −1 . The obtained results indicate the possibility of the effective use of mulberry branches after the annual pruning of bushes in plantations for energy purposes.

Keywords: solid biofuels; pellet; waste management; bioenergy production; biomass yield (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: 2025
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