Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.22-05
Physical and Fuel Properties of Bambusa vulgaris of Different Age Groups and Their Effect on Producing Biofuel
Kwaku Antwi
orcid.org/0000-0002-7715-3932
; Akenten Appiah - Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development Faculty of Technical Education, Department of Construction and Wood Technology Education, P.O Box 1277, Kumasi, AAMUSTED Avenue 12, 00000 Tanoso-Kumasi, Ghana
George Adu
; Kumasi Technical University, Faculty of Built and Natural Environment, Department of Interior Design and Materials Technology, P. O. Box 854, Kumasi, Asafo Avenue 4, 00000 Asafo-Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Sylvia Adu
; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Department of Forest Resources Technology, Mango Road, St 35 00000 KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana
Joseph Appiah-Yeboah
; Mampong Technical College of Education, Department of Technical and Vocational Education, Box 31, MAMPTECH Avenue 56, 00000 Mampong – Ashanti, Ghana
Sažetak
Bamboo can be used to produce solid, gaseous, and liquid fuels, as well as to generate heat and biofuels for transport and electricity. The main objective of this study was to investigate the physical and fuel properties of Bambusa vulgaris in three ecological zones for their utilization potential for the production of biofuels. Thirty-six samples of Bambusa vulgaris culms from 3 ecological zones in Ghana were milled to powder to assess the physical and fuel properties. The physical properties; moisture content, high heating values, bulk density, density, and ash content were investigated. The fuel properties were based on ultimate analysis, carbon, hydrogen nitrogen, and oxygen. The mean moisture content (MC) for the green bamboo ranged from 68.8% (dead culm) to 148% (mature culm) and 168% (juvenile culm). The MC for dried samples ranged from 9.09 to 13.06%. The results showed that the % MC of the samples increased with decreasing values of high heating and ash content. The mean density of the matured bamboo culms varied from 616.84 to 641.68 kg·m–3 and dead bamboo culms from 609.01 to 632.72 kg·m–3. Marginal reduction in density was observed in dead bamboo culms across the three ecological zones as compared to the mature bamboo culms. This implies that when B. vulgaris overgrows, its density decreases. High heating values ranged from 16.12 to 18.14 MJ·kg–1. Bulk density determines the transportation and storage of biomass; it ranged from 0.12 to 0.52 g·m–3. The ash contents were within the threshold (≥3%) of European standard. The mean values for the ultimate analysis of carbon (48.46 to 53.31%), hydrogen (5.60 to 6.56%), nitrogen (0.58 to 0.61%), and oxygen (39.73 to 41.35) were higher. Fuel properties of Bambusa vulgaris are comparable to some wood types, lower to denser wood types, but higher than most of the herbaceous energy crops and agricultural residues. This means that Bambusa vulgaris may be a good feedstock for the production of bioenergy in terms of heat, charcoal, biogas, bio-power, and transportation fuel.
Ključne riječi
Bamboo; biomass; biofuel; high heating value
Hrčak ID:
281166
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.6.2022.
Posjeta: 397 *