Advantages and disadvantages of composition and properties of biomass in comparison with coal: An overview

Published Date
doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2015.05.050
Review article

Author 

Stanislav V. Vassilev ^a,,

Christina G. Vassileva ^a

Vassil S. Vassilev ^b

aInstitute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street, Block 107, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria

bSpace Research and Technology Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street, Block 1, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria

Received 23 February 2015. Revised 22 April 2015. Accepted 19 May 2015. Available online 30 May 2015. 

Highlights 

• •
  Composition and properties of biomass were summarised.
• •
  Comparative characterization between biomass and coal was given.
• •
  Advantages of biomass composition and properties were described.
• •
  Disadvantages of biomass composition and properties were discussed.

Abstract

An extended overview of the advantages and disadvantages of biomass composition and properties for biofuel application was conducted based on reference peer-reviewed data plus own investigations. Initially, some general considerations and comparisons about composition and properties of biomass and coal as the most popular solid fuel are addressed. Then, some of the major advantages related to the composition and properties of biomass and/or biomass ash (BA) are discussed. They include: (1) high values of volatile matter, H, structural organic components, extractives and reactivity of biomass, water-soluble nutrient elements and alkaline-earth elements in biomass and BA, and pH of BA; and (2) low values of C, fixed C, ash, N, S, Si and initial ignition and combustion temperatures of biomass, and low contents of many trace elements including hazardous ones in biomass and BA. Further, some of the major disadvantages connected with the composition and properties of biomass and/or BA are described. They comprise: (1) high values of moisture and O in biomass, water-soluble fraction, alkaline and halogen elements, and some hazardous trace elements in biomass and BA; (2) low values of energy density (bulk density and calorific value), pH and ash-fusion temperatures of biomass, and bulk density and size of BA; (3) highly variable composition and properties of biomass and BA; and (4) indefinite availability of sustainable biomass resources for production of biofuels. Finally, a discussion about the availability of sustainable biomass resources for production of biofuels and biochemicals is given. It was found that the disadvantages of biomass for biofuel and biochemical applications prevail over the advantages; however, the major environmental, economic and social benefits appear to compensate the technological and other barriers caused by the unfavourable composition and properties of biomass.

Keywords

Biomass

Coal

Ash

Composition and properties

Advantages and disadvantages

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Nomenclature

A

ash yield

AFT

ash-fusion temperature

BA

biomass ash

daf

dry, ash-free basis

db

dry basis

DTA

differential-thermal analysis

DWR

dry water-soluble residue

EDX

energy dispersive X-ray analyser

FC

fixed carbon

HHV

higher heating value

IAM

inorganic amorphous matter

ICP

inductively coupled plasma

IM

inorganic matter

LA

laser ablation

M

moisture

MS

mass spectrometry

OM

organic matter

SEM

scanning electron microscopy

TE

trace element

TGA

thermo-gravimetric analysis

VM

volatile matter

XRD

X-ray powder diffraction

%

weight%

 Table 1

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 Table 2

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 Table 3

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 Table 5

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  Corresponding author. Tel.: +359 2 9797055; fax: +359 2 9797056.

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