Perspectives for the use of biomass generated by some miscanthus genotypes in the production of densified solid biofuels

Abstract

Miscanthus is a Poaceae family perennial crop of C4 bioenergy characterized by the multilateral use potential, including the production of biofuels. The paper aimed to study the opportunity to use the biomass generated by two Miscanthus genotypes: Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis in the production of densified solid biofuels. We quantified the biomass generated by crops that were 5 years old, harvested from both genotypes after the vegetation period, the year 2020. Samples were taken from the experimental lots of the Alexandru Ciubotaru National Botanical Garden (Institute) from the Republic of Moldova in autumn, immediately after the initial onset of senescence and in spring of the following year, before the start of the growing season. The results showed that the above-ground biomass generated by both Miscanthus genotypes harvested in spring had had significantly higher quality characteristics compared to the biomass harvested in autumn. Virtually all qualitative indices of the Miscanthus × giganteus biomass harvested in spring comply with the requirements of the ENPlus international standards for densified solid biofuels. The Miscanthus sinensis biomass, both, had lower indices than the Miscanthus × giganteus biomass from both qualitative and quantitative points of view and the former can be used as a filler in various mixtures of raw material for the production of solid biofuels.