• Feedstocks Analysed at Celignis
    Coppices

Background on Coppices

These energy crops, often referred to as short rotation coppices (SRCs), include the hardwoods willow, poplar, and robina, and are currently the most abundantly used energy crop feedstock worldwide for biomass fuelled electricity and energy generation. It is well established as an energy crop due to its relatively high yields, ability to grow in various climates, and the relatively low maintenance costs/times required once the crop is established.

Coppice plantations are currently established from 20-25 cm long un-rooted stem cuttings vertically planted in a seed-bed. Immediately after planting, a pre-emergent herbicide is usually applied to prevent germination of annual weeds. By the end of the first growing season, usually in November, the trees will have reached a height of approximately one to two and a half metres and usually have one to four stems.

Coppicing the stems at a height of 2-5 cm promotes multiple sprout formation, which results in rapid canopy closure in the second growing season.

After the second growing season little maintenance is required, apart from disease/insect monitoring. The number of years between harvests is defined as the cutting cycle. SRCs generally have cutting cycles of between two and five years. Conventionally, it has been recommended that harvesting should occur in the winter, when the plants are dormant and their leaves have fallen, and be completed by bud swell. This period would usually be approximately four months - between late November and mid March. Due to the heavy nature of the harvesting machinery, operations are not considered possible when the soil is wet. Some studies indicate that year-long harvesting is possible, although there are yield losses associated with summer harvesting. These losses need to be weighed against dry matter losses experienced in storage.

The harvesters used tend to either cut and chip the coppice in one operation, or harvest the whole stems for later comminution.

Analysis of Coppices at Celignis



Celignis Analytical can determine the following properties of Coppices samples:



Lignocellulosic Properties of Coppices

Cellulose Content of Coppices

Coppices are hardwoods and have a good cellulose content. The whole-plant cellulose content will depend on: the productivity of the tree; the mass ratio of stem biomass to foliage; the cutting cycle; and the particular coppice variety.

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Hemicellulose Content of Coppices

Coppices are hardwoods and will typically have a lower hemicellulose content than herbaceous energy crops (e.g. Miscanthus). The principal hemicellulose sugar is xylose with small amounts of galactose, mannose,arabinose, and rhamnose present.

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Lignin Content of Coppices

As hardwoods coppices will have a good lignin content. The whole-plant lignin content will depend on: the productivity of the tree; the mass ratio of stem biomass to foliage; the cutting cycle; and the particular coppice variety.

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Starch Content of Coppices

The starch content of coppices varies between the different anatomical components of the plant. Typically it is highest in the leaves, where photosynthesis takes place, and lower in the stems. The starch content can also vary according to the maturity of the plant.

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Uronic Acid Content of Coppices

The uronic acids glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid are present in the hemicelluloses of coppices.

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Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Coppices

We can undertake tests involving the enzymatic hydrolysis of Coppices. In these experiments we can either use a commercial enzyme mix or you can supply your own enzymes. We also offer analysis packages that compare the enzymatic hydrolysis of a pre-treated sample with that of the native original material.

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Bioenergy Properties of Coppices

Ash Content of Coppices

The ash content of coppices is typically reasonably low although this will be dependent on the variety and the amount of foliage present on the standing crop.

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Heating (Calorific) Value of Coppices

Coppices have good heating values, meaning that they are suitable for utilisation in boilers for the production of heat and/or electricity. However the effective heating value will depend greatly on the moisture content of the crop.

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Ash Melting Behaviour of Coppices

Ash melting, also known as ash fusion and ash softening, can lead to slagging, fouling and corrosion in boilers which may reduce conversion efficiency. We can determine the ash melting behaviour of Coppices using our Carbolite CAF G5 BIO ash melting furnace. It can record the following temperatures:

Ash Shrinkage Starting Temperature (SST) - This occurs when the area of the test piece of Coppices ash falls below 95% of the original test piece area.

Ash Deformation Temperature (DT) - The temperature at which the first signs of rounding of the edges of the test piece occurs due to melting.

Ash Hemisphere Temperature (HT) - When the test piece of Coppices ash forms a hemisphere (i.e. the height becomes equal to half the base diameter).

Ash Flow Temperature (FT) - The temperature at which the Coppices ash is spread out over the supporting tile in a layer, the height of which is half of the test piece at the hemisphere temperature.



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Major and Minor Elements in Coppices

Examples of major elements that may be present in Coppices include potassium and sodium which are present in biomass ash in the forms of oxides. These can lead to fouling, ash deposition in the convective section of the boiler. Alkali chlorides can also lead to slagging, the fusion and sintering of ash particles which can lead to deposits on boiler tubes and walls.

We can also determine the levels of 13 different minor elements (such as arsenic, copper, and zinc) that may be present in Coppices.

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Analysis of Coppices for Anaerobic Digestion



Biomethane potential (BMP) of Coppices

At Celignis we can provide you with crucial data on feedstock suitability for AD as well as on the composition of process residues. For example, we can determine the biomethane potential (BMP) of Coppices. The BMP can be considered to be the experimental theoretical maximum amount of methane produced from a feedstock. We moniotor the volume of biogas produced allowing for a cumulative plot over time, accessed via the Celignis Database. Our BMP packages also involve routine analysis of biogas composition (biomethane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, oxygen). We also provide detailed analysis of the digestate, the residue that remains after a sample has been digested. Our expertise in lignocellulosic analysis can allow for detailed insight regarding the fate of the different biogenic polymers during digestion.



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Physical Properties of Coppices



Bulk Density of Coppices

At Celignis we can determine the bulk density of biomass samples, including Coppices, according to ISO standard 17828 (2015). This method requires the biomass to be in an appropriate form (chips or powder) for density determination.



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Particle Size of Coppices

Our lab is equipped with a Retsch AS 400 sieve shaker. It can accommodate sieves of up to 40 cm diameter, corresponding to a surface area of 1256 square centimetres. This allows us to determine the particle size distribution of a range of samples, including Coppices, by following European Standard methods EN 15149- 1:2010 and EN 15149-2:2010.



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Examples of Other Feedstocks Analysed at Celignis



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