THE POSSIBILITY OF USING BURLEY TOBACCO STALKS AS A BIOFUEL

Abstract

The reduction of world`s fossil fuel reserves, as well as concern environmental pollution, encourages the use of renewable energy sources. In the Republic of Serbia, biomass from agriculture represents a significant energy potential. The aim of this paper was to examine the possibility of using tobacco stalks as biofuels, considering that each year, after the harvest of leaves, about 70 000 tons of stalks from all tobacco types remains in the fields. The material used in this study were Burley tobacco stalks, sawdust from beech wood and wheat straw, which were chosen due to the fact that they are already in use as biofuel. In the first part of the experiment the ash content in all samples was determined, which is used to predict the higher heating value (HHV). The HHV as a function of ash content (ash, wt %) was calculated using the equation by Sheng and Azevedo. The experimental determination of the calorific value of all samples in a calorimetric bomb was conducted in the second part of the study. Based on predicted (18208.18 kJ/kg) and experimentally determined HHV of tobacco stalks (17504.44 kJ/kg), as well as comparisons with other forms of biomass, it was concluded that Burley tobacco stalks can be used as biofuel. Experimental values of tobacco stalks are only 9% lower in relation to HHV of beech sawdust. Tobacco stalks and wheat straw have the approximate values of HHV.