Performance of visible and Near-infrared spectroscopy to predict the energetic properties of wood

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Abstract

Abstract: Wood can be used for fuel by direct burning, or as a raw material for other fuels; however, it is necessary to evaluate the energy properties to ensure the optimal use of this material. The most relevant characteristics to be analyzed are the higher heating value, volatile material content, fixed carbon content, and ash content. Along with the traditional methods, there are also non-destructive evaluations that are optimized for speed and reliability. Among these methods, visible spectroscopy and near-infrared spectroscopy have been proven to be robust for the prediction of several wood properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of visible spectroscopy and near-infrared spectroscopy for species discrimination and prediction of higher heating value, volatile material content, fixed carbon content, and ash content for Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus dunnii, and Eucalyptus benthamii woods. For this purpose, multivariate principal component analysis and partial least squares regression were applied to the collected spectra. The principal component analysis satisfactorily discriminated the three species, explaining 99% of the variance of the visible spectroscopy spectra and 73% of that of the near-infrared spectra. The estimation of energetic properties through partial least squares regression was satisfactory for both visible spectroscopy and near-infrared spectroscopies, which presented calibration R² values close to 1 and low errors for all properties studied.

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Energy production from biomass (Part 1): Overview of biomass.

Peter McKendry (2002)

The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary, if we are to achieve the changes required to address the impacts of global warming. Biomass is the most common form of renewable energy, widely used in the third world but until recently, less so in the Western world. Latterly much attention has been focused on identifying suitable biomass species, which can provide high-energy outputs, to replace conventional fossil fuel energy sources. The type of biomass required is largely determined by the energy conversion process and the form in which the energy is required. In the first of three papers, the background to biomass production (in a European climate) and plant properties is examined. In the second paper, energy conversion technologies are reviewed, with emphasis on the production of a gaseous fuel to supplement the gas derived from the landfilling of organic wastes (landfill gas) and used in gas engines to generate electricity. The potential of a restored landfill site to act as a biomass source, providing fuel to supplement landfill gas-fuelled power stations, is examined, together with a comparison of the economics of power production from purpose-grown biomass versus waste-biomass. The third paper considers particular gasification technologies and their potential for biomass gasification.