TITLE:
Controlled Batch Leaching Conditions for Optimal Upgrading of Agricultural Biomass
AUTHORS:
Prabahar Ravichandran, Duncan Gibb, Kenneth Corscadden
KEYWORDS:
Optimal Leaching; Agricultural Biomass; Fuel Design; Ash Reduction
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
13,
2013
ABSTRACT: Agricultural biomass presents a promising feedstock,
which may contribute to a transition to low carbon fuels. A significant
amount of research has identified a number of challenges when combusting
agricultural feedstock, related primarily to energy value, ash, emissions,
corrosion and combustion characteristics. The mitigation of such challenges can
be addressed more cost effectively when dealing with large or utility scale
combustion. The costs associated with harvesting,
conversion, transportation and ultimately, market development all create
additional roadblocks for the creation of an agricultural biomass industry.
Nova Scotia, an Eastern Canadian province, has significant land resources,
however it is prone to wet spring and as yet does not have a supply chain established
for such an industry. The main components of supply, processing and conversion
and demand simply do not yet exist. This research addresses one aspect of this
supply chain by attempting to develop a fuel suitable for a) existing markets
(local residential wood and wood pellet stoves and b) a scale
that will support industry engagement. The outcomes of this research have
determined that such a venture is possible and presents empirical preprocessing
conditions to achieve a competitive agricultural fuel.