Page 74 - Biofuels Refining and Performance

Photosynthetic Plants as Renewable Energy Sources 57

for use as biodiesel in Asian countries. It is employed in preparation of
soaps and candles and used as an illuminant and lubricant. In China,
a varnish is prepared by boiling the oil with iron oxide, and in England,
it is used in wool spinning. The oil is used for medicinal purposes for skin
diseases, for rheumatism, as an abortifacient, and it is also effective in
dropsy, sciatica, and paralysis.

Miscanthus. Miscanthus, a thin-stemmed grass, has been identified as
an ideal fuel crop as it gives a high dry-matter yield (see Fig. 2.8). Under
adequate rainfall conditions, light-arable soils give good yield. It has been
found that dark-colored soils produce better yield than light-colored
soils. It has been evaluated as a bioenergy crop in Europe for over 10 years
and is grown in several European countries. Annual harvesting ability,
low mineral content, and good energy yield per hectare are desirable
characteristics. It is propagated as rhizomes planted in double rows
about 75 cm apart, with 175-cm gaps between the rows. While disease
control is not a significant issue, weed control measures are important.
In Germany and Denmark, yields are 13–30 ton/ha for 3- to 10-year-old
plantation [10].

Panicum. Panicum virgatum or switchgrass (see Fig. 2.9) is another
thin-stemmed herb that has been used as a model plant [10]. It is a C 4
species, and though it has lower moisture content than wood, it has
similar calorific value. It has been found suitable for the development of

Figure 2.8 Miscanthus. (Source: www.bluestem.ca/
miscanthusgracillimus.htm. Used with permission.)