Characterization of Tree Crops Biomass from Marginal Lands as Feedstock for Solid Biofuels

Abstract Even though the biomass production on marginal lands intended to be used as biofuel production feedstock has been proposed as an alternative viable option for meeting biofuel requirements and address the conflict between food and fuels, there are still concerns whether the species grown on marginal lands can have a high quality performance as solid biofuels feedstock. In this study, material of stem wood, branches and bark of three native forest species of Mediterranean region, turkish pine, black pine and black locust was harvested from marginal lands of North Greece, and thoroughly characterized on the basis of physical properties, combustion characteristics, chemical composition, and ash elemental analysis. The potential of these fast-growing drought-tolerant species to contribute as sustainable feedstock for qualitative solid biofuels production is high, with black pine to present the highest potential. The materials presented low moisture and ash contents, especially stems and branches, and high calorific values, comparable to species grown on conventional lands, attributed to high lignin contents. The materials ashes consist mainly of Ca, K, S, P major elements and their toxic elements contents are negligible, increasing the ashes potential to be utilized in fertilizing.