CHOSEN PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CUTLEAF CONEFLOWER (RUDBECKIA LACINIATA L.) SHOOTS.

Biomass is one of the oldest renewable energy sources. It is obtained mainly from agricultural production, forestry as waste or residue production. One of the plants that can be used for energetic crops is Cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata L. It forms dense clumps. Currently, this plant is quite common in the wild, wet positions, located along watercourses. Effective use of cutleaf coneflower biomass for biofuel production is possible after determining these properties, which significantly affect the course of the different stages of processing. The scope of work included the determination of the following physico-mechanical properties of the shoots: length and diameter (on height of cut at harvest), work of cutting, modulus of elasticity, specific density and calorific value. The obtained results indicate that cutleaf coneflower shoots have the characteristics desired from the point of view of their use for energy purposes (e.g., the heating value at the airdry state 15.2 MJ.kg-1, work of cuts 0.021 J.mm-2, the specific density 348.7 kg.m-3). It was found that the tested plant has properties similar to those of other energy plants (such as Miscanthus giganteus, Virginia mallow). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]