US EPA

9418937 

Journal Article 

PHYSIC NUT WOOD: AN INTERESTING FEEDSTOCK FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION 

Pari, L; Suardi, A; Gallucci, F; Longo, L; Carnevale, M; Toscano, G 

2018 

PAPERS OF THE 26TH EUROPEAN BIOMASS CONFERENCE: SETTING THE COURSE FOR A BIOBASED ECONOMY 

283-288 

WOS:000540663800051 

In order to assure the energy security, the rural development and to reduce the effects of the climate change, many countries actively promote the cultivation of energy crops which have been identified as suitable for achieving national energy and environmental targets. Phisic nut (Jatropha curcas, L.) is a perennial oil crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions mainly for the production of biodiesel. Beside the oil, the pruning annually produced by jatropha could be a source of biomass and an extra-income for the farmers, that usually have to face with the serious problem of the residues disposal. However, few information of the physical and chemical characteristics of the jatropha wood are available in literature and its consequent potential behavior during the combustion in boiler is unknown. This study clarify on the potentiality of the jatropha wood as feedstock highlighting the pros and cons of it, and the results represent critical data useful for future studies and business potential. The scope of the study is to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of the jatropha wood in order to verify its potential use as biomass feedstock for boilers, in order to produce heat and electricity. The analysis were conducted according to EN ISO standards. The moisture and ash contents, ash melting point (AMP), heating value, and concentrations of C, H, N, S were analyzed. Due to the interesting result obtained during the AMP test, other AMP tests with different mixes of jatropha wood and cereal straw were carried out in order to evaluate the potential behavior during combustion and the fuel improvement obtainable. They present characteristics that fit in between herbaceous and woody crops and future studies will be critical to evaluate the economic sustainability of a energy supply chain from jatropha pruning which will includes a pelletizing process. 

jatropha wood; agricultural residues; ash melting point