Training on

Technologies for Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into Energy

Organized by
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP DTIE IETC)
23-25 September, 2013
San Jose, Costa Rica

Characterization of Waste
Agricultural Biomass for
Energy Applications

Surya Prakash Chandak

Senior Programme Officer
International environmental Technology Centre
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
Osaka, Japan
UNEP
 Why Characterisation of WAB

Characterization of WAB provides

essential information for:
• Selection of WAB2E technology
• System design
• Assessment of operational
performance
• Provides data for tendering

2 International Environmental Technology Centre UNEP

 Characterization of waste agricultural
biomass

Parameters of characterization
• Visual characterization
• Moisture content
• Chemical Composition
• Calorific value
• Specific characterization parameters

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 Characterization of waste agricultural
biomass
Visual characterization

Source Waste Stream Visual Observations

Commercial Facilities Fruit and vegetable High moisture
waste (estimated to be 60-
80%), sometimes
putrified, mixed with
packing hay
Corporate Farms Rice husk Clean, stacked in
heaps, approximate
volume …m3
Jaggery Plants Bagasse Moist waste (estimated
moisture 50%),
scattered around, some
spread on ground for
sun-drying, mixed with
barbojo
Private farms -- --
-- -- --

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 Characterization of waste agricultural
biomass
Moisture content
Two ways of reporting
Moisture content on wet basis (MCwb)
Moisture content on dry basis (MCdb)
MC wb
MCdb  .
1  MC wb

Relationship between MCwb and MCdb

2.5
Moisture Content on Dry Basis

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Moisture Content on Wet Basis

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 Characterization of waste agricultural
biomass
Chemical composition – Ultimate Analysis
Percent by weight (dry basis)
Component Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Sulphur Ash
Wheat Straw 48.5 5.5 39.9 0.3 0.1 5.7
Rice Straw 39.2 5.1 35.8 0.6 0.1 19.2
Rice Husk 38.5 5.7 39.8 0.5 <0.01 15.5
Bagasse 46.4 5.4 42.6 0.7 <0.01 4.9
Hard Wood 50.8 6.4 41.5 0.4 <0.01 0.9
Soft Wood 52.9 6.3 39.7 0.1 <0.01 1.0
Corn Cob 46.2 7.67 42.3 1.2 0.3 2.4
Cotton stalk 45.3 5.6 45.3 0.5 <0.01 3.3
Anthracite coal 78.8 2.3 2.5 0.9 0.5 15

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 Characterization of waste agricultural
biomass
Chemical composition – Proximate Analysis
Percent by weight (dry basis)
Volatile Matter
(%dry ash free basis) Fixed Carbon Ash
Component (%dry ash free basis) (% dry basis)
Wheat Straw 83.9 16.1 11.2
Rice Straw 80.2 19.8 19.8
Rice Husk 81.6 18.4 23.5
Bagasse 84.2 15.8 2.9
Wood 77-87 13-21 0.1-2.0
Peanut shell 78.4 21.6 7.2
Corn Cob 85.4 14.6 2.8
Cotton stalk 80.0 20.0 5.3
Anthracite coal 5.9 94.1 15.0

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 Characterization of waste agricultural
biomass

Energy Content
Three expressions:
Higher Heating Value (HHV) or Gross Calorific Value (GCV)
Lower Heating Value (LHV) or Net Calorific Value (NCV)
Usable Heat Content
HHV – Total energy generated from combustion including the heat of
condensation of water vapor – represents maximum theoretical
potential energy
LHV -- Total energy generated from combustion less the heat of
condensation of water vapor – represents maximum realizable
energy
UHC – LHV less the sensible heat of the combustion products –
represents actual usable energy

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Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
UNEP
Relationships between heating values
UNEP
– HHV of wet biomass = (1-m)HHVD
UNEP
– LHV = (1-m)HHVD - (latent heat)(moisture content
in product gas per kg fuel)
= (1-m)HHVD – 2.447[m + 9.0(1-m)H]
– Utilizable heat content =
LHV - [(mass fraction)
(CP)]all products(Texht - Tamb)
where m is the fractional moisture content in biomass

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International Environmental Technology Centre
UNEP
Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
UNEP
Estimation of Higher Heating Value of WAB
UNEP
– Usually, heating values of biomass materials are determined
UNEP
through direct experimental measurement by means of a
device called bomb calorimeter
– Alternative to the practical measurements, approximate
estimations for HHVD could be made through analytical
equations that are derived based on fuel composition
– Based on ultimate analysis
Three models:
– Model – X: HHV=0.352xC + 1.162xH – 0.111xO + 0.063xN + 0.105xS
– Model – Y: HHV=0.349xC + 1.178xH – 0.103xO + 0.015xN + 0.101xS – 0.021A
– Model – Z: HHV=0.341xC + 1.323xH – 0.120xO + 0.120xN + 0.680xS – 0.015A
– HHV – Higher Heating Value in MJ/Kg
– C,H,O,N,S,A are the % mass fractions of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Ash
respectively in dry biomass.
– Try matching with the formula !!
• 10
Q = 337C + 1442(H - O/8) + 93S
International Environmental Technology Centre
UNEP
Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
 Estimation of Higher Heating Value of WAB
Based on ultimate analysis
UNEP
Biomass Composition (% by weight) HHVD (MJ/kg)
UNEP
FuelUNEP
C H O N S Ash Model Model Model
X Y Z
Paddy Straw 39.2 5.1 35.8 0.6 0.1 19.2 15.8 15.6 15.5
Paddy Husk 38.5 5.7 39.8 0.5 0 15.5 15.8 15.7 15.6
Corn Cob 46.2 7.6 42.3 1.2 0.3 2.4 20.5 20.7 20.6
Bagasse 46.4 5.4 42.6 0.7 0 4.9 17.9 18.1 17.7
Cotton Stalk 45.3 5.6 45.3 0.5 0 3.3 17.4 17.7 17.3
Hard Wood 50.8 6.4 41.5 0.4 0 0.9 20.7 21.0 20.7
Soft Wood 52.9 6.3 39.7 0.1 0 1.0 21.5 21.8 21.6
Miscanthus 48.1 5.4 42.2 0.5 0.1 3.7 18.5 18.7 18.4
Barley 45.7 6.1 38.3 0.4 0.1 9.4 18.9 19.0 18.9
Straw
Wheat Straw 48.5 5.5 39.9 0.3 0.1 5.7 19.0 19.2 18.9
Lignite 64.0 4.2 19.2 0.9 1.3 10.4 25.4 25.2 24.9
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Anthracite 78.8 2.3
International 2.5 0.9 Technology
Environmental 0.5 15 Centre 30.2 29.7 29.3 UNEP
Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
UNEP
Estimation of Higher Heating Value of WAB
UNEP
 Based on ultimate analysis
UNEP

Ultimate Analysis (%) HHVD (MJ/kg)

Biomass constituent /
Model Model Model-
Chemical equation C H O
-X -Y Z
44.4 6.2 49.4 17.3 17.7 17.4
Cellulose / (C6H10O5)x
45.5 6.1 48.5 17.6 18.0 17.7
Hemicelluloses / (C5H8O4)y
58.7 – 6.5 – 32.2 – 24.9 25.1 25.0
Lignin /
61.3 6.9 34.4 – – –
(C9H10O3(CH3O)0.9 – 1.7)z
25.6 25.8 25.7

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International Environmental Technology Centre
UNEP
 Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
Estimation
UNEP
of Higher Heating Value of WAB
UNEP
 Based on proximate analysis
UNEP

Three Models
 Model A: HHV = 0.1559xVM + 0.3536xFC – 0.0078xA
 Model B: HHV = 0.1708xVM + 0.3543xFC
 Model C: HHV = 0.3133x(VM+FC) – 10.8141

HHV – Higher Heating Value in MJ/Kg

VM, FC,A are the % mass fractions of Volatile Matter, Fixed Carbon and
Ash respectively in dry biomass.

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International Environmental Technology Centre
UNEP
Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
 Estimation of Higher Heating Value of WAB
UNEP
UNEP Based on proximate analysis
UNEP
Biomass Fuel Composition (% by weight) HHVD (MJ/kg)
VM FC Ash Model- Model- Model-
(ash free) (ash free) A B C
Bagasse 84.2 15.8 2.9 18.1 19.4 19.6
Coconut coir 82.8 17.2 0.9 18.8 20.1 20.2
Coconut shell 80.2 19.8 0.7 19.4 20.6 20.3
Coir pith 73.3 26.7 7.1 19.3 20.4 18.3
Corn cob 85.4 14.6 2.8 17.9 19.2 19.6
Corn stalks 80.1 19.9 6.8 18.1 19.3 18.4
Groundnut shell 83.0 17 5.9 17.8 19.0 18.7
Paddy Husk 81.6 18.4 23.5 14.5 15.6 13.2
Paddy Straw 80.2 19.8 19.8 15.5 16.6 14.3
Wheat Straw 83.9 16.1 11.2 16.6 17.8 17.0
Peanut Shell 78.4 21.6 7.2 18.4 19.5 18.3
Cotton Stalk 80.0 20.0 5.3 18.5 19.7 18.9 14
International Environmental Technology Centre
UNEP
Characterization of waste agricultural biomass
 Effects of Moisture on Heating Value
UNEP
UNEP
UNEP HHV of wet biomass  1 - m HHVD .
LHV  1 - m HHV D - (latent heat)  (moisture content in product gas per kg fuel)
 1 - m HHV D - 2.447  m  9.0  1  m  H , ,
20.0
Wood Pellet
18.0 (8% moisture)

16.0
Heating Value (MJ/kg)

14.0
Green Wood
12.0 (50% moisture)
10.0 Air Dried Wood
(20% moisture)
LHV
8.0
HHV
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
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Moisture
International Content onTechnology
Environmental Wet Basis Centre UNEP
 HAPPY WORKING ON
CHARACTERIZATION OF
WASTE AGRICULTURAL
BIOMASS

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 THANK YOU

For further information:

http://www.unep.or.jp

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