Search

Using the standard methods for the determination of approximate analysis, ultimate analysis, chemical composition, heating value and inorganic elements, the thermochemical properties of three air-dried napier grass samples have been analyzed in the present study. The results showed that thermochemical characteristics of all samples were found to be similar. The energy grass obviously comprised a large percentage of volatile matter at 72.72 ± 0.73 wt%. The molar rations of hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ranging from 1.60 to 1.73 are close to those of cellulose (H/C = 1.67) and hemicellulose (H/C = 1.6), which was in accordance with its higher heating value (16.3 MJ/kg). However, the contents of nitrogen and chlorine were significantly high, suggesting that the emissions of acidic gases and chlorinated organics from biomass-to-heat facilities will arouse concern. Based on the 100,000 ha fallow farmland cultivated into the energy grass in Taiwan and the Tier 1 method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the environmental benefit of mitigating CO2emissions and the economic benefit of oil equivalent were calculated to be around 5.0 × 106Gg/yr and 1.1 × 107barrels/yr, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, the yield and chemical characterization of pyrolytic products from the induction-heating pyrolysis of napier grass, one of potential energy grasses, have been studied at the specified conditions. Although the yields of bio-oil and char were a little related to the feedstock size less than 1mm, it was observed that the yield of liquid products increased with heating rates ranging from 50 to 150°C/min. Using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), the analytical results showed that the bio-oils were acidic and dark brown liquids with complex mixtures of organic compounds, including acetic acid and a large variety of oxygenated and nitrogenated compounds such as phenols, pyridines, pyrazoles, imidazoles, amines, and ketones. These organic hydrocarbons should be derived from the biopolymer textures of napier grass. On the other hand, the non-condensed devolatilization fractions were primarily composed of 3-methyl-1,2-butadiene, furans and one-ring aromatic compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]