Abstract
In this study the impact of senescence and harvest time in Miscanthus on the quality of fast pyrolysis liquid (bio-oil) was investigated. Bio-oil was produced using a 1kgh fast pyrolysis reactor to obtain a quantity of bio-oil comparable with existing industrial reactors. Bio-oil stability was measured using viscosity, water content, pH and heating value changes under specific conditions. Plant developmental characteristics were significantly different (P=0.05) between all harvest points. The stage of crop senescence was correlated with nutrient remobilisation (N, P, K; r=0.9043, r=0.9920, r=0.9977 respectively) and affected bio-oil quality. Harvest time and senescence impacted bio-oil quality and stability. For fast pyrolysis processing of Miscanthus, the harvest time of Miscanthus can be extended to cover a wider harvest window whilst still maintaining bio-oil quality but this may impact mineral depletion in, and long term sustainability of, the crop unless these minerals can be recycled.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 335-342 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Bioresource Technology |
| Volume | 129 |
| Early online date | 29 Nov 2012 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Funding: SUPERGEN Bioenergy II Consortium under Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK (EPSRC) [EP/E039995/1]; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - EPSRC [GR/S28204]; EPSRC DTA award; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Institute Strategic Programme grant [BBSEG00003134]Keywords
- miscanthus x giganteus
- senescence
- nitrogen remobilisation
- fast pyrolysis
- bio-oil stability