Fuel Characterisation of Some Indigenous Biomass

Biomass mainly comprises of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and water. Determination of this composition for some locally available biomass may give rise to valuable information for further processing of biomass as renewable-energy source. Biomass as renewable-energy source has become a popular alternative to the more polluting and exhaustible fossil fuels. The fuel is obtainedfrom woody biomass of some indigenous plants such as Mango (Mangifera indica), Jamun (Syzygium cumini) Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Ashok/Debdaru (Polyalthia longifolia) and Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and non-woody biomass such as bagasse, rice straw and coconut husk. The chemical composition of the biomass is obtained using CHN/O analysis and its influence on fuel quality has been studied. It is found that Sheesham has the highest carbon content of 44.43% by weight and Ashok the minimum with 40.19% by weight. Nitrogen has the minimum values in Jackfruit with 2.12% by weight and Sheesham the least with 0.97% by weight. The variation of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen in all the samples of biomass is also presented. The calorific values of all the biomass samples are found and compared. It is observed that Sheesham sample has highest calorific value (19, 591.12 J/g) and Mango has minimum calorific value (17, 782.21J/g).