Bio-energy characteristics of black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) hydrodistillation waste products

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the physicochemical and energy characteristics of Pinus nigra Arn. (Pinaceae family) coniferous biomass used after the production of essential oil. The biomass, comprised of needles and needles with twigs, was milled and subjected to sieve analysis, thus producing three groups of particle fractions (between 384 and 413 μm). The infrared spectrum was recorded as 4000–400 сm–1. The results from the study revealed significant differences in the phytochemical composition. Particle fractions were characterized in terms of moisture content (7.10-7.95%), ash (1.96-2.89%), cellulose (21.30-29.20%), total chlorophyll (225.54-896.04 μg/g), total carotenoids (23.52-145.43 μg/g), and polysaccharides (0.14-2.06%). The basic energy indices used in the assessment of biomass potential as conditional fuel were calculated as follows: calorific value (16748.79-16877.86 kJ/kg), the density of wood biomass (390.99-421.17 kg/m3), and heat equivalent (0.224-0.243 J/m3).