Characterization,pretreatment and saccharification of spent seaweed biomass for bioethanol production using baker's yeast

Seaweeds are marine macroalgae found abundantly and viewed as potential source of phycocolloids to produce biofuel. In this study, seaweed spent biomass obtained from alginate production industry and biomass obtained after pigment extraction were found to contain a considerable amount of phycocolloids. These two spent biomasses were investigated for the production of ethanol. In this study, the red seaweed spent biomass of Gracilaria corticata var corticata showed higher content of polysaccharide (190.71 ± 30.67 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) than brown seaweed spent biomass (industrial) (136.28 ± 30.09 mg g⁻¹ dry weight). Hydrolysis of spent biomasses with different concentrations of sulfuric acid (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) was also investigated. Brown seaweed spent biomass and red seaweed spent biomass exhibited high amount of sugar in 0.5% and 1% sulfuric acid treatment, respectively. Proximate and ultimate composition of seaweed spent biomasses were analysed for energy value. The FT-Raman spectra exhibited similar stretches for both acid hydrolysed spent biomasses with their respective standards. Ethanol produced through a fermentation process using spent hydrolysates with baker's yeast at pH 5.3 was found to be significant. The ethanol yield from brown seaweed spent biomass and red seaweed spent biomass was observed to be 0.011 g g⁻¹ and 0.02 ± 0.003 g g⁻¹ respectively, when compared with YPD (0.42 ± 0.03 g g⁻¹) and d-galactose (0.37 ± 0.04 g g⁻¹) as standard on day 4. The present study revealed the possibility of effective utilization of spent biomass from seaweed industry for ethanol production.     

Enhanced substrate degradation and methane yield with maleic acid pre-treatments in biomass crops and residues

Organic acids are envisaged as alternative catalysts to strong mineral acids, in pre-treatment of ligno-cellulosic biomass for anaerobic digestion (AD). To evaluate this hypothesis, an untreated control and four pre-treatments (25 °C for 24 h) involving two levels of maleic acid (34.8 and 69.6 kg m⁻³), alone and combined with sulphuric acid (4 kg m⁻³), were studied in three agricultural substrates: Arundo (aka giant reed), Barley straw and B133 fibre sorghum. Methane production was assessed in a batch AD assay (35 °C for 51 days) with 4 g L⁻¹ of volatile solid (VS) load. Fibre composition and structure were investigated through chemical analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Arundo and B133 that were the most and least recalcitrant substrate, respectively, staged the highest and lowest increase in methane with high maleic acid: +62% over 218 cm³ g⁻¹ of VS in untreated Arundo; +36% over 284 cm³ g⁻¹ of VS in untreated B133. Barley straw showed an intermediate behaviour (+41% over 269 cm³ g⁻¹ of VS). H₂SO₄ addition to maleic acid did not improve CH₄ output. The large increase in methane yield determined by pre-treatments was reflected in the concurrent decrease of fibre (between 14 and 39% depending on fibrous component). Based on FTIR spectra, bands assigned to hemicellulose and cellulose displayed lower absorbance after pre-treatment, supporting the hypothesis of solubilisation of structural carbohydrates and change in fibre structure. Hence, maleic acid was shown a suitable catalyst to improve biodegradability of ligno-cellulosic biomass, especially in recalcitrant substrates as Arundo.     

Lignocellulosic ethanol production employing immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae in packed bed reactor

Most of ethanol production processes are limited by lower ethanol production rate and recyclability problem of ethanologenic organism. In the present study, immobilized co-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae GSE1618 was employed for ethanol fermentation using rice straw enzymatic hydrolysate in a packed bed reactor (PBR). The immobilization of S. cerevisiae was performed by entrapment in Ca-alginate for optimization of ethanol production by varying alginic acid concentration, bead size, glucose concentration, temperature and hardening time. Remarkably, extra hardened beads (EHB) immobilized with S. cerevisiae could be used up to repeated 40 fermentation batches. In continuous PBR, maximum 81.82 g L⁻¹ ethanol was obtained with 29.95 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ productivity with initial glucose concentration of 180 g L⁻¹ in feed at dilution rate of 0.37 h⁻¹. However, maximum ethanol concentration of 40.33 g L⁻¹ (99% yield) with 24.61 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ productivity was attained at 0.61 h⁻¹ dilution rate in fermentation of un-detoxified rice straw enzymatic hydrolysate (REH). At commercial scale, EHB has great potential for continuous ethanol production with high productivity using lignocellulosic hydrolysate in PBR.     

Production of ethanol from raw juice and thick juice of sugar beet by continuous ethanol fermentation with flocculating yeast strain KF-7

Sugar beet juice can serve as feedstock for ethanol product due to its high content of fermentable sugars and high energy output/input ratio. Batch ethanol fermentation of raw juice and thick juice proved that addition of mineral nutrients could not improve ethanol concentration, but could accelerate the fermentation rate. Fermentation of thick juice with an initial pH of 9.1 did not affect the fermentation process. The continuous ethanol fermentation of raw juice was performed at 35 °C with a dilution rate of 0.3 h⁻¹, resulting in ethanol concentration, ethanol yield and productivity of 70.7 g L⁻¹, 89.8% and 21.2 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. A two-stage reactor was used in the continuous ethanol fermentation of thick juice by feeding fresh yeast cells into the second reactor. This process was stable at a total process dilution rate of 0.11 h⁻¹ with an overall sugar concentration of 190 g L⁻¹ in the influent. The ethanol concentration was kept at approximately 80 g L⁻¹, corresponding to ethanol yield of 82.5% and productivity of 8.8 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

Sweet sorghum as a whole-crop feedstock for ethanol production

The potential of sweet sorghum as an alternative crop for ethanol production was investigated in this study. Initially, the enzymatic hydrolysis of sorghum grains was optimized, and the hydrolysate produced under optimal conditions was used for ethanol production with an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting in an ethanol concentration of 87 g L⁻¹. From the sugary fraction (sweet sorghum juice), 72 g L⁻¹ ethanol was produced. The sweet sorghum bagasse was submitted to acid pretreatment for hemicellulose removal and hydrolysis, and a flocculant strain of Scheffersomyces stipitis was used to evaluate the fermentability of the hemicellulosic hydrolysate. This process yielded an ethanol concentration of 30 g L⁻¹ at 23 h of fermentation. After acid pretreatment, the remaining solid underwent an alkaline extraction for lignin removal. This partially delignified material, known as partially delignified lignin (PDC), was enriched with nutrients in a solid/liquid ratio of 1 g/3.33 mL and subjected to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, resulting in an ethanol concentration of 85 g L⁻¹ at 21 h of fermentation. Thus, from the conversion of starchy, sugary and lignocellulosic fractions approximately 160 L ethanol.ton⁻¹ sweet sorghum was obtained. This amount corresponds to 13,600 L ethanol.ha⁻¹.     

Cob biomass supply for combined heat and power and biofuel in the north central USA

Corn (Zea mays L.) cobs are being evaluated as a potential bioenergy feedstock for combined heat and power generation (CHP) and conversion into a biofuel. The objective of this study was to determine corn cob availability in north central United States (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota) using existing corn grain ethanol plants as a proxy for possible future co-located cellulosic ethanol plants. Cob production estimates averaged 6.04 Tg and 8.87 Tg using a 40 km radius area and 80 km radius area, respectively, from existing corn grain ethanol plants. The use of CHP from cobs reduces overall GHG emissions by 60%–65% from existing dry mill ethanol plants. An integrated biorefinery further reduces corn grain ethanol GHG emissions with estimated ranges from 13.9 g CO₂ equiv MJ⁻¹ to 17.4 g CO₂ equiv MJ⁻¹. Significant radius area overlap (53% overlap for 40 km radius and 86% overlap for 80 km radius) exists for cob availability between current corn grain ethanol plants in this region suggesting possible cob supply constraints for a mature biofuel industry. A multi-feedstock approach will likely be required to meet multiple end user renewable energy requirements for the north central United States. Economic and feedstock logistics models need to account for possible supply constraints under a mature biofuel industry.     

Periodic peristalsis enhancing the high solids enzymatic hydrolysis performance of steam exploded corn stover biomass

Enzymatic hydrolysis beyond 15% solid loading offers many advantages such as increased sugar and ethanol concentrations and decreased capital cost. However, difficult mixing and handling limited its industrialized application. A novel intensification method, periodic peristalsis, had been exploited to improve the high solids enzymatic hydrolysis performance of steam exploded corn stover (SECS). The optimal steam explosion conditions were 200 °C and 8 min, under which glucan and xylan recovery was 94.3% and 64.8%, respectively. Glucan and xylan conversions in periodic peristalsis enzymatic hydrolysis (PPEH) were 28.0–38.5% and 25.0–36.0% higher than those in static state enzymatic hydrolysis with solid loading increasing from 1% to 30%, respectively, while they were 1.0–11.2% and 3.0–9.2% higher than those in incubator shaker enzymatic hydrolysis (ISEH). Glucan and xylan conversion in PPEH at 21% solid loading reached 71.2% and 70.3%, respectively. Periodic peristalsis also facilitated fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis of which SECS was added completely before transition point. Results presented that PPEH shortened the transition point time from solid state to slurry state, decreased the viscosity of hydrolysis mixture, and reduced the denaturation effect of enzymes compared with ISEH, and hence improve the high solids enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency.     

Hydrogen,ethanol and cellulase production from pulp and paper primary sludge by fermentation with Clostridium thermocellum

Pulp and paper industry primary sludge being largely composed of lignocellulosic fibres, it could be used as carbon source by bacteria having cellulolytic capability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of cellulose contained in this type of sludge for Clostridium thermocellum to produce ethanol, hydrogen and cellulases. In an ATCC 1191 medium containing 5 kg m⁻³ dry primary sludge from recycled paper mill, batch culture reached stationary phase after 2 days. All of the available cellulose was hydrolysed after 60 h of incubation, with a final pH of 5.83. Metabolites produced after 60 h of fermentation were acetate (8.50 mol m⁻³), ethanol (11.30 mol m⁻³), lactate (8.75 mol m⁻³), formate (0.27 mol m⁻³), hydrogen (11.20 mol m⁻³) and carbon dioxide (18.41 mol m⁻³). Cellulase activity was detected in the supernatant after 36 h, with a maximal activity of 0.25 U cm⁻³ at 72 h. Pulp and paper primary sludge appeared to be a readily usable substrate for C. thermocellum at this concentration, yielding both potential biofuels (hydrogen and ethanol) as well as active cellulases.     

Second-generation bioethanol of hydrothermally pretreated stover biomass from maize genotypes

Twelve maize genotypes, were agronomically evaluated and their stover hydrothermally pretreated in a temperature range of 210–225 °C to assess the effects of genotype and pretreatment severity on stover recalcitrance toward bioethanol conversion. Maize genotypes exhibited significant variation for biomass yield and all agronomic evaluated, while among all cell wall constituents measured in the unpretreated stover, only ash content showed differences among genotypes. The pretreatment severities assayed impacted most stover compositional traits, and the glucose recovered after enzymatic hydrolysis displayed a similar profile among genotypes with similar genetic background. Harsher pretreatment conditions maximized the potential cellulosic bioethanol production (208–239 L/t), while the mildest maximized the bioethanol from the hemicellulosic hydrolysates (137–175 L/t). Consequently, when both pentose and hexose sugars were considered, the total potential bioethanol produced at the lowest and highest pretreatment temperatures was similar in all genotypes (292–358 L/t), indicating that the lowest temperature (210 °C) was the optimal among all assayed. Importantly, the ranking of genotypes for bioethanol yield (L/ha) closely resembled the ranking for stover yield (t/ha), indicating that breeding for biomass yield would increase the bioethanol production per hectare regardless of the manufacturing process. Similarly, the genetic regulation of corn stover moisture is possible and relevant for efficient energy production as biomass moisture has a potential impact on stover transportation, storage and processing requirements. Overall, these results indicate that local landrace populations are important genetic resources to improve cultivated crops, and that simultaneous breeding for production of grain and stover bioethanol is possible in corn.     

Effects of delayed winter harvest on biomass yield and quality of napiergrass and energycane

Napiergrass (Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone) and energycane (Saccharum hyb.) are perennial grasses that are well-suited for biomass production in the southeastern USA. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of delayed winter harvest on biomass yield and quality of these grasses. The study was conducted on two adjacent sites near Midville, GA. Each site used a split-plot design with four replications, with species as the main plot, and harvest times (December, January, or February) as sub-plots. Dry matter (DM) yields were measured by mechanical harvesting, and a sample of biomass was taken from each harvest for determination of ethanol production by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Biomass moisture, N, P, K, and ash mass fractions were also measured. Energycane DM yields were stable from December (46.8 Mg ha⁻¹) to January (42.9 Mg ha⁻¹), but then declined (36.8 Mg ha⁻¹), while napiergrass yields declined sharply from December (47.0 Mg ha⁻¹) to January (35.0 Mg ha⁻¹). Napiergrass moisture mass fraction was reduced by an average of 18% in February harvests compared to December. Mass fractions of N, K, and ash tended to decrease with later harvesting, but sometimes increased due to changes in biomass composition. Delaying harvest of napiergrass from December to January reduced N removal by an average of 144 kg ha⁻¹, while delaying harvest of energycane to February reduced N removal by an average of 54 kg ha⁻¹. In SSF, later-harvested energycane produced less ethanol per unit of DM while napiergrass was less affected by harvest date.     

Growth,yield, fiber content and lodging resistance in eight varieties of Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone intended as energy crop

Growth, biomass yield, fiber content and lodging resistance were studied, during a six month growth period, for eight varieties of Cenchrus purpureus, intended as energy crop, in Veracruz, Mexico. Then, only yield at day 182 was assessed for two additional years. The varieties were: CT115 (CT), African Cane (AC), Taiwan (TAI), King Grass (KG), Vruckwona (VRU), Roxo (RX), OM22 (OM) and Cameroon (CAM). Local weather is warm and sub-humid, historical data for monthly average temperature and annual rainfall were 25.8 °C and 1142 mm, respectively. Height, diameter and light interception were measured monthly from day 65–185. At day 185, biomass yield and tiller density were measured. Number of lying tillers was counted to estimate lodging resistance. Cellulose and hemicellulose content were estimated in leaf and stem. No differences were found for dry matter yield or stem yield at day 185 in the first year. Regarding the next two years, TAI yielded above CT, OM or ROX. Average dry matter yield was higher in the second year than in the establishment cycle (38.6 vs 21.1 Mg ha⁻¹), but decreased in the third year (32.2 Mg ha⁻¹). In both stem and whole plant, AC and KG showed higher hemicellulose content than RX, OM or CT; while AC and VRU had higher cellulose than RX in stem, or than CT in the whole plant. Furthermore, varieties AC, KG, VRU and TAI were resistant to lodging and had a higher fiber content, so they are recommended as energetic crops.     

Mild alkaline pre-treatments loosen fibre structure enhancing methane production from biomass crops and residues

Three ligno-cellulosic substrates representing varying levels of biodegradability (giant reed, GR; fibre sorghum, FS; barley straw, BS) were combined with mild alkaline pre-treatments (NaOH 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 N at 25 °C for 24 h) plus untreated controls, to study pre-treatment effects on physical-chemical structure, anaerobic digestibility and methane output of the three substrates. In a batch anaerobic digestion (AD) assay (58 days; 35 °C; 4 g VS l⁻¹), the most recalcitrant substrate (GR) staged the highest increase in cumulative methane yield: +30% with NaOH 0.15 N over 190 ml CH₄ g⁻¹ VS in untreated GR. Conversely, the least recalcitrant substrate (FS) exhibited the lowest gain (+10% over 248 ml CH₄ g⁻¹ VS), while an intermediate behaviour was shown by BS (+15% over 232 ml CH₄ g⁻¹ VS). Pre-treatments speeded AD kinetics and reduced technical digestion time (i.e., the time needed to achieve 80% methane potential), which are the premises for increased production capacity of full scale AD plants. Fibre components (cellulose, hemicellulose and acid insoluble lignin determined after acid hydrolysis) and substrate structure (Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy) outlined reductions of the three fibre components after pre-treatments, supporting claims of loosened binding of lignin with cellulose and hemicellulose. Hence, mild alkaline pre-treatments were shown to improve the biodegradability of ligno-cellulosic substrates to an extent proportional to their recalcitrance. In turn, this contributes to mitigate the food vs. fuel controversy raised by the use of whole plant cereals (namely, maize) as feedstocks for biogas production.     

Effect of doping pretreated corn stover conditions on yield of bioethanol in immobilized cell systems

The surface characteristics of immobilized yeast before and after adding CO₂-laser pretreated corn stover (LPCS) substrates were investigated using bioethanol production. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on the Box–Behnken design (BBD) for experiments, was used to optimize the doping condition. An optimum experimental condition was obtained at pH 4.5, 2.08% yeast concentration, and 0.20% LPCS substrates. Under this condition, doping LPCS increased the yield of bioethanol from 53% to 84%, which matched the predicted value. After doping LPCS, the results of inverted microscope (IM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) illustrated that the immobilized gel beads changed from rod-like in shape with a smooth surface to a larger rod-like ultrastructure with a rougher surface. The yield was relatively stable within 28 d, with a downward trend subsequently appearing.     

Steam explosion pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of duckweed (Lemna minor) biomass

Our previous research has shown that duckweed is potentially an ideal feedstock for the production of biofuels because it can be effectively saccharified enzymatically. Here we report the results of experiments in which duckweed was pre-treated by steam explosion prior to enzyme digestion. A range of temperatures, from 130 to 230 °C with a fixed retention time of 10 min, were employed. The best pretreatment conditions were 210 °C for 10 min; these conditions produced the highest amount of water-soluble material (70%), the greatest levels of starch solubilisation (21%) and hemicellulose and pectic polysaccharides degradation (60%). The use of these steam explosion conditions enabled large reductions in the concentrations of enzymes required for effective saccharification. The amount of Celluclast required was reduced from 100 U (4.35 FPU) g⁻¹ substrate to 20 U g⁻¹ substrate, and additional beta-glucosidase was reduced from 100 to 2 U g⁻¹ substrate.     

Estimating sustainable crop residue removal rates and costs based on soil organic matter dynamics and rotational complexity

The government of Ontario, Canada, has committed to stopping the use of coal for electrical generation by 2014 and agricultural biomass is being considered as replacement. However, there is limited information on whether the annual 2 million Mg of biomass required to replace coal could be sustainably supplied by agriculture and at what costs. This study assesses the sustainable availability and the farm-gate break-even cost of residue biomass from three crops (corn, soybean and winter wheat) grown under two common rotation scenarios in Ontario. Sustainably removable residue (SRR) rates are determined using a five-step approach that accounts for maintenance soil organic matter (MSOM) in the presence of yield and rotation variations across counties. Under typical SOM formation and decomposition conditions and assuming typical corn-soybean and corn-soybean-winter wheat rotation scenarios, about 1.1 million Mg of residue could be sustainably removed each year, primarily from the major agricultural counties in the province. While rotational complexity enhances SRR, the inclusion of soybean decreases available residue compared to corn and winter wheat. The break-even price for crop residues, representing the minimum price necessary to cover all variable and fixed costs for the farmer, is between $57 Mg⁻¹ and $87 Mg⁻¹. However, the actual amount supplied for each biomass price depends critically on the opportunity costs associated with not growing typical crops in the conventional manner.     

Energy recovery from grass of urban roadside verges by anaerobic digestion and combustion after pre-processing

Grass from urban roadside verges is a potential, though widely unused, resource for bioenergy recovery. Two possible bioenergy recovery techniques were tested, i.e. i) direct anaerobic digestion of the whole parent material and ii) the “integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass” (IFBB) procedure, which divides biomass into a press fluid and a press cake by mashing and mechanical dewatering. Biomass yield, chemical composition and canopy height of biomass, contribution of functional groups, fermentation characteristics of silage and press fluids, as well as characteristics of the produced solid fuel was investigated, applying a 4-cut management for anaerobic digestion, a 2-cut management for IFBB and an 8 times mulching as a reference. Mean annual biomass yield (2013 and 2014) was 3.24, 3.33 and 5.68 t dry matter ha⁻¹ for the mulching, 4-cut management and 2-cut management, respectively. Yields were higher in 2014 due to more favourable weather conditions. Fibre concentration was higher in material of the 2-cut management than in the 4-cut management, however, methane yield of the corresponding silages was the same. Highest methane yield was gained from press fluids with 292 l_N kg⁻¹ volatile solids. The press cake had a lower heating value of 16 MJ kg⁻¹ dry matter and a K₂O/CaO index of 0.51–0.88. Gross energy output was 26.4 GJ ha⁻¹ for anaerobic digestion and 84.4 GJ ha⁻¹ for IFBB. Thus, an altered roadside verge management with reduced cutting frequency might allow a significant energy recovery and improved ecosystem services, i.e. increased biodiversity.     

Compositional differences among upland and lowland switchgrass ecotypes grown as a bioenergy feedstock crop

Feedstock quality mainly depends upon the biomass composition and bioenergy conversion system being used. Higher cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations are desirable for biochemical conversion, whereas higher lignin is favored for thermochemical conversion. The efficiency of these conversion systems is influenced by the presence of high nitrogen and ash concentrations. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) varieties are classified into two ecotypes based on their habitat preferences, i.e., upland and lowland. The objectives of this study were to quantify the chemical composition of switchgrass varieties as influenced by harvest management, and to determine if ecotypic differences exist among them. A field study was conducted near Ames, IA during 2012 and 2013. Upland (‘Cave-in-Rock’, ‘Trailblazer’ and ‘Blackwell’) and lowland switchgrass varieties (‘Kanlow’ and ‘Alamo’) were grown in a randomized block design with six replications. Six biomass harvests were collected at approximately 2-week intervals each year. In both years, delaying harvest increased cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin concentrations while decreasing nitrogen and ash concentrations in all varieties. On average, Kanlow had the highest cellulose and hemicellulose concentration (354 and 321 g kg⁻¹ DM respectively), and Cave-in-Rock had the highest lignin concentration (33 g kg⁻¹ DM). The lowest nitrogen and ash concentrations were observed in Kanlow (14 and 95 g kg⁻¹ DM respectively). In general, our results indicate that delaying harvest until fall improves feedstock quality, and ecotypic differences do exist between varieties for important feedstock quality traits. These findings also demonstrate potential for developing improved switchgrass cultivars as bioenergy feedstock by intermating lowland and upland ecotypes.     

Optimization of mechanical pre-treatment of Laminariaceae spp. biomass-derived biogas

Macroalgae have not met their full potential to date as biomass for the production of energy. One reason is the high cost associated with the pretreatment which breaks the biomass's crystalline structure and better exposes the fermentable sugars to anaerobes. In the attempt to overcome this technological barrier, the performance of a Hollander beater mechanical pretreatment is assessed in this paper. This pretreatment has been applied to a batch of Laminariaceae biomass and inoculated with sludge from a wastewater treatment plant. The derived biogas and methane yields were used as the responses of a complex system in order to identify the optimal system input variables by using the response surface methodology (RSM). The system's inputs considered are the mechanical pretreatment time (5–15 min range), the machine's chopping gap (76–836 μm) and the mesophilic to thermophilic range of temperatures (30–50 °C). The mechanical pretreatment was carried out with the purpose of enhancing the biodegradability of the macroalgal feedstock by increasing the specific surface area available during the anaerobic co-digestion. The pretreatment effects on the two considered responses are estimated, discussed and optimized using the tools provided by the statistical software Design-Expert v.8. The best biogas yield of treated macroalgae was found at 50 °C after 10 min of treatment, providing 52% extra biogas and 53% extra methane yield when compared to untreated samples at the same temperature conditions. The highest biogas rate achieved by treating the biomass was 685 cc gTS⁻¹, which is 430 cc gTS⁻¹ in terms of CH₄ yield.     

Sickle bush (Dichrostachys cinerea L.) field performance and physical–chemical property assessment for energy purposes

The sickle bush (Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.) comprises a woody legume shrub which is widely distributed throughout of the tropical areas of Africa, Asia and Oceania, being found as well in Cuba where it represents a difficult to control invasive plant. It holds great silvopasture and energy crop potentials. In southwestern Spain a two year field trial was conducted contemplating also another six hardwood taxa commonly used as energy crops. The sickle bush above ground dry biomass fraction was 60.4%; sickle bush displayed a high transpiration rate during hot days (3.02 kg m⁻² d⁻¹ to 6.82 kg m⁻² d⁻¹); cold winter temperatures (<−2 °C) together with hot and dry summer air (<20% relative humidity) committed survival and growth. The physical-chemical wood properties and the pellets thereof derived were analyzed and compared to those of the other energy crop taxa. The within other woody species normal chemical composition range coupled to a high wood density and energetic use properties (19.2 MJ kg⁻¹ higher heating value, 29 g kg⁻¹ ash content) all allow for an industrial use. Pellets evidenced also good physical and mechanical properties (690 kg m⁻³ bulk density, 42 g kg⁻¹ moisture content). However, the mechanical durability (93.9%) was slightly less than that required by the non-industrial use standards, therefore further improvements should be studied. All of the above could encourage scrubland cuts in Cuba as a mechanical control method, in addition to the expansion of plantations within of their tropical climate based natural habitats.     

The effects of physical and chemical preprocessing on the flowability of corn stover

Continuous and reliable feeding of biomass is essential for successful biofuel production. However, the challenges associated with biomass solids handling are commonly overlooked. In this study, we examine the effects of preprocessing (particle size reduction, moisture content, chemical additives, etc.) on the flow properties of corn stover. Compressibility, flow properties (interparticle friction, cohesion, unconfined yield stress, etc.), and wall friction were examined for five corn stover samples: ground, milled (dry and wet), acid impregnated, and deacetylated. The ground corn stover was found to be the least compressible and most flowable material. The water and acid impregnated stovers had similar compressibilities. Yet, the wet corn stover was less flowable than the acid impregnated sample, which displayed a flow index equivalent to the dry, milled corn stover. The deacetylated stover, on the other hand, was the most compressible and least flowable examined material. However, all of the tested stover samples had internal friction angles >30°, which could present additional feeding and handling challenges. All of the “wetted” materials (water, acid, and deacetylated) displayed reduced flowabilities (excluding the acid impregnated sample), and enhanced compressibilities and wall friction angles, indicating the potential for added handling issues; which was corroborated via theoretical hopper design calculations. All of the “wetted” corn stovers require larger theoretical hopper outlet diameters and steeper hopper walls than the examined “dry” stovers.