EVALUATION OF INVASIVE HERBACEOUS PLANTS UTILIZATION TO PRODUCE PRESSED BIOFUEL

Abstract

The technology of invasive herbaceous plant harvesting and pressing biofuel preparation are the main topics of the article, and the quality indicators and attributes have been examined and identified. For this study, two types of invasive plants were used: Sosnowsky's hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) and giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis). Pine wood biomass was used as a control. This plant material was collected, dried, and put to use in the creation of pressed biofuel. Plant biomass was cut, processed, and then compressed into cylindrical briquettes after being harvested and dried. The average density of briquettes was found to range between 615.60 and 867.31 kg m^-3 after examination of their physical and elemental parameters. The briquettes' determined critical compressive strength was found to disintegrate when subjected to a critical force between 783 N and 1219 N. Briquettes estimated lower calorific value was from 15.90 to 18.60 MJ kg^-1. The test biofuel briquettes' harmful gas emissions were also assessed, and it was found that they were within acceptable limits and adequately low. In summary, it can be argued that all produced compressed biofuel from invasive plants complied with the majority crucial solid biofuel standards. Briquettes made from research plants can be burned in boilers designed for biofuel briquettes.