title: Impact of Miscanthus x giganteus senescence times on fast pyrolysis bio-oil quality.
abstract: In this study the impact of senescence and harvest time in Miscanthus on the quality of fast pyrolysis liquid (bio-oil) was investigated. Bio-oil was produced using a 1 kg h(-1) fast pyrolysis reactor to obtain a quantity of bio-oil comparable with existing industrial reactors. Bio-oil stability was measured using viscosity, water content, pH and heating value changes under specific conditions. Plant developmental characteristics were significantly different (P≤0.05) between all harvest points. The stage of crop senescence was correlated with nutrient remobilisation (N, P, K; r2=0.9043, r2=0.9920, r2=0.9977 respectively) and affected bio-oil quality. Harvest time and senescence impacted bio-oil quality and stability. For fast pyrolysis processing of Miscanthus, the harvest time of Miscanthus can be extended to cover a wider harvest window whilst still maintaining bio-oil quality but this may impact mineral depletion in, and long term sustainability of, the crop unless these minerals can be recycled.
authors.affiliation: Aberystwyth University, IBERS, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mos
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nowakowski
authors.forename: P R H
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Bridgwater
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Donnison
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D006361:Heating / Q000379:methods*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels