Selected Grass Plants as Biomass Fuels and Raw Materials for Papermaking. Part I. Calorific Value and Chemical Composition

Abstract

Biomass yield was studied for tall wheatgrass, tall fescue, tall oatgrass, and Miscanthus × giganteus per hectare of cultivation, as well as their calorific value and cost of cultivating these biomasses. Chemical analyses were performed on these raw materials to determine their lignin, cellulose, extractives, and ash contents. The analytical results are compared to the chemical constituents found in birch and pine wood. It was found that the grasses examined in this study differed in biomass yield and cost to cultivate (1 ha plot). Tall wheatgrass, tall fescue, tall oatgrass, and Miscanthus leaves had lower levels of lignin compared with wood, but also lower amounts of cellulose. When determining the cellulose content of these biomasses, the amount of inorganic ash that is bound to them must be taken into account.