Paper Details

We report here the physico-chemical characterization and thermal behaviour investigation of six species ofwild grasses (Phragmites karka (Retz.), Thysanolaena agrostis Nees, Neyraudia reynaudiana, Coelorachis striata,Erianthus fultus and Sclerostachya fusca ) collected from Assam and Manipur for their biomass content towards thealternative renewable biofuel production. This study investigates the physical analysis (proximate analysis,Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Calorific value), chemical analysis (ultimate analysisand Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and fibre analysis (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin etc). The results confirmedthat combustion conditions define the characteristics of each biomass sample having a different zone of degradationprofile. Thermal degradation profile was seen at temperatures such as hemicellulose at 250-300 0 C followed by celluloseat 300-350 0 C and finally lignin at 350-500 0 C. The crystallinity index was found maximum in Phragmites karka (33.82)and minimum in Coelorachis striata (13.54). The calorific value of the biomasses was calculated and the maximum wasfound in Erianthus fultus (16.20 MJ/Kg). FTIR analysis of these lignocellulosic grass biomass revealed that functionalgroups were present with a vast spectrum of wave number starting from 3400 to 873 cm-1. The cellulose content derivedfrom fibre analysis was found to be maximum in Erianthus fultus (39.2%). All these properties combined together showsthat these lignocellulosic biomass can act as the potential candidate for bio-energy production.

Yengkhom Disco Singh, Utpal Bora, Pinakeswar Mahanta, “Physico-chemical characterization and thermal behaviour study of Lignocellulosic biomass obtained from a few wild grasses of Kamrup (Assam) and Thoubal (Manipur) for biofuel production”, International Journal of Advance Engineering and Research Development (IJAERD), Vol. 3, Issue 9, pp. 74-88, September 2016.