Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The use of the white poplar (Populus alba L.) biomass as fuel

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We determined the calorific value of white poplar (Populus alba L.) woody biomass to use it as firewood. The value of 19.133 MJ kg−1 obtained experimentally shows that the white poplar can be quite successfully used as firewood. Being of a lower quality in comparison with usual beech firewood, the white poplar has similar calorific value. The white poplar has a calorific density of 30.7 % lower than that of current firewood. That is why the price of this firewood from white poplar is lower accordingly. Also, the prognosis of calorific value on the basis of the main chemical elements, being very close to the experimental value (+2.6 %), indicates an appropriate value can be achieved to be used for investigation with the chemical element analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ASTM D3865-12 (2000) Standard test method for gross calorific value of coal and coke. American Society for Testing and Materials

  • Aznar MP, Caballero MA, Sancho JA, Frances E (2006) Plastic waste elimination by co-gasification with coal and biomass in fluidized bed with air in pilot plant. Fuel Process Technol 87:409–420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya SC, Abdul P (1989) Low greenhouse gas biomass option for cooking in the developing countries. Biomass Bioenergy 22:305–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boutin JP, Gervasoni G, Help R, Seyboth K, Lamers P, Ratton M (2007) Alternative energy sources in transition countries. The case of bio-energy in Ukraine. Environ Eng Manag J 6:3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Brilli F, Gioli B, Zona D, Pallozzi E, Zenone T, Fratini G, Calfapietra C, Loreto F, Janssens IA, Ceulemans R (2014) Simultaneous leaf- and ecosystem-level fluxes of volatile organic compounds from a poplar-based SRC plantation. Agric For Meteorol 187:22–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen WH, Cheng WY, Lu KM, Wuang YP (2011) An evaluation on improvement of pulverized biomass property for solid through torrefaction. Appl Energy 88:3636–3644

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen WH, Ye SC, Sheen HK (2012) Hydrothermal carbonization of sugarcane bagasse via wet torrefaction in association with microwave heating. Biores Technol 118:195–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christersson L (2010) Wood production potential in poplar plantations in Sweden. Biomass Bioenergy 34:1289–1299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DIN 51900-1 (2000) Determining the gross calorific value of solid and liquid fuels using the bomb calorimeter and calculation of net calorific value. Part 1: general information. German National Standard

  • Gavrilescu D (2008) Energy from biomass in pulp and paper mills. Environ Eng Manag J7:537–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Grantina-Ievina L, Saulite D, Zeps M, Nikolajeva V, Rostoks N (2012) Comparison of soil microorganism abundance and diversity in stands of European aspen (Populus tremula L.) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx. × P. tremula L.). Est J Ecol 61:265–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISO 1928:2009 (2009) Solid mineral fuels. Determining the gross calorific power by calorimeter bomb and calculus of net calorific power. International Organization for Standardization

  • Jehlickova B, Morris R (2007) Effectiveness of policy instruments for supporting the use of waste wood as a renewable energy resource in the Czech Republic. Energy Policy 35:577–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazagic A, Smajevic I (2009) Synergy effects of co-firing wooden biomass with Bosnian coal. Energy 34:699–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kishi H, Fujita A (2008) Wood-based epoxy resins and the ramie fiber reinforced composites. Environ Eng Manag J 7:517–523

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kostanaki E, Vamvuka D (2005) A comparative reactivity and kinetic study on the combustion of coal-biomass char blends. Fuel 85:1186–1193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang WJ, Hu HQ, Liu FJ, Zhang DM (2006) Research advance of biomass and carbon storage of poplar in China. J For Res 17(1):75–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lunguleasa A (2010) The compressive strength of wooden briquettes used as renewable fuel. Environ Eng Manag J 9:977–982

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lunguleasa A (2012) Calitatea si indicele de vanzare al brichetelor lemnoase (Quality and Marketability Index of Wooden briquettes), Revista Recent, B+ CNCSIS, indexata in Index Copernicus Journal Master List (http://journals.indexcopernicus.com/passport.php?id=5046) si ULRICH’S Periodicals Directory (http://www.recentonline.ro/files/ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com_RECENT_2011.pdf), ISSN 1582–0246 print version, ISSN 2065–4529 electronic version, papers are available at http://www.recentonline.ro/issues.html, vol 13 (2012), No. 1(34), pp 61–65, Brasov, March, 2012

  • Lunguleasa A, Costiuc L, Patachia S, Ciobanu V (2007) Combustia ecologica a biomasei lemnoase. (Ecological combustion of wooden biomass). Transylvania University Publishing House, Brasov (in Romanian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunguleasa A, Budau G, Cosereanu C (2010) Density and compression strength of beech and spruce briquettes. ProLigno 6:61–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Meriloa E, Heinsoob K, Kulla O, Koppelb A (2006) Above-ground production of two willow species in relation to radiation interception and light use efficiency. Proc Est Acad Sci Biol Ecol 55:341–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen NPK, Gardner DJ, Poulsen T, Felby C (2009) Importance of temperature, moisture content and species for the conversion process of wood residues into fuel pellets. Wood Fiber Sci 41:414–425

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parikh J, Channiwala SA, Ghosal GK (2005) A correlation for calculating HHV from proximate analysis of solid fuels. Fuel 84:487–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi L, Yit M, Chew L (2013) A model to predict carbon monoxide of woods under external heat flux–Part I: theory. Procedia Eng 62:413–421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teuch O, Hofeanuer A, Troger F, From J (2004) Basic properties of specific wood based materials carbonised in a nitrogen atmosphere. Wood Sci Technol 38:345–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Verlinden MS, Broeckx LS, Zona D, Berhongaray G, De Groote T, Camino Serrano M, Janssens IA, Ceulemans R (2013) Net ecosystem production and carbon balance of an SRC poplar plantation during its first rotation. Biomass Bioenergy 56:412–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verma VK, Bram S, de Ruyck J (2009) Small scale biomass systems: standards, quality labeling and market driving factors—an EU outlook. Biomass Bioenergy 33:1393–1402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wijaya N, Zhang LA (2011) Critical review of coal demineralization and its implication on understanding the speciation of organically bound metals and submicrometer mineral grains in coal. Energy Fuel 25:1–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank by this route to the leadership of Transylvania University of Brasov and the Doctoral Department of “Transylvania” University of Brasov for its material and financial support of Romania. This paper is supported by the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development (SOP HRD), ID134378 financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Wood Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor nr. 29, 50036, Brasov, Romania

    Tatiana Griu & Aurel Lunguleasa

Authors
  1. Tatiana Griu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aurel Lunguleasa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aurel Lunguleasa.

Additional information

Project funding: This work was supported by (1) the Doctoral Department of “Transylvania” University of Brasov for its material and financial support of Romania, (2) the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development (SOP HRD), ID134378 financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government.

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Yu Lei.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Griu, T., Lunguleasa, A. The use of the white poplar (Populus alba L.) biomass as fuel. J. For. Res. 27, 719–725 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-015-0178-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-015-0178-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation