Grouping of unused agricultural by-product biomass for fuel conversion in South Korea through multivariate analysis

Abstract

While biomass holds significance as a resource, its abundance in South Korea is limited. Therefore, in this study analyzed the chemical characteristics of agricultural by-products produced and evaluated their fuel potentiality. To achieve this objective, multivariate analysis was utilized to create biomass clusters with diverse feature. All investigated biomass types showed heating values of at least 12.6 MJ/kg, adhering to South Korea's Bio-solid recovered fuel (SRF) standard, once the moisture content was reduced to 20 % or less. However, the biomasses only met the heating value of Level 3 of the European standard for SRF, which is at least 15 MJ/kg. Groups were formed based on a multivariate analysis using four variables: the high heating value, and carbon, nitrogen, and ash contents. The groups were centered around wood chips and hog fuel, with a cluster of lignocellulosic biomass materials surrounding them. The clusters formed around four groups. When the biomasses in each group were mixed, the combustion characteristics were compared to the ignition, maximum, and burn-out temperatures. Utilizing biomass grouping, by-products from agriculture and livestock in South Korea can be effectively employed as energy sources.

Keywords: Agricultural By-product; Biomass to Fuel; Grouping of biomass; Multivariate Analysis; Unused biomass.