Marginal lands providing tree‐crop biomass as feedstock for solid biofuels
Vasiliki Kamperidou, Paschalina Terzopoulou, Ioannis Barboutis
Abstract
Abstract In this study, materials from stem, branches and bark of three native forest species from the Mediterranean region – Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia Ten.), black pine ( Pinus nigra L.), and black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.) – were harvested from marginal lands in north Greece, and were thoroughly characterized on the basis of their physical properties, combustion characteristics, chemical composition, and ash elemental analysis. The potential of these fast‐growing, drought‐tolerant species to function as sustainable feedstock for solid biofuel production has been proven to be high, with black pine showing the strongest potential. The materials, especially stems and branches, presented low moisture and ash content, and high calorific value attributed to high lignin content, in comparison with species grown on conventional lands. The ashes, being produced from processed materials, mainly consist of Ca, K, S, and P as major elements, while their toxic element contents are negligible, increasing the potential for the ash to be utilized in fertilization. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.