title: Invasive plants as feedstock for biochar and bioenergy production.
abstract: In this work, the potential of invasive plant species as feedstock for value-added products (biochar and bioenergy) through pyrolysis was investigated. The product yield rates of two major invasive species in the US, Brazilian Pepper (BP) and Air Potato (AP), were compared to that of two traditional feedstock materials, water oak and energy cane. Three pyrolysis temperatures (300, 450, and 600°C) and four feedstock masses (10, 15, 20, and 25 g) were tested for a total of 12 experimental conditions. AP had high biochar and low oil yields, while BP had a high oil yield. At lower temperatures, the minimum feedstock residence time for biochar and bioenergy production increased at a faster rate as feedstock weight increased than it did at higher temperatures. A simple mathematical model was successfully developed to describe the relationship between feedstock weight and the minimum residence time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000737:chemistry; D058865:Introduced Species; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal