STUDIES ON THE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATING POTENTIALS OF SOME AGRICULTURAL PLANT RESIDUES GENERATED FROM FARMING IN KATSINA STATE

Abstract

The renewable energy producing potentials of six agriculturally generated residues have been studied with the aim of determining the suitability of each plant residue for use as a feedstock in energy generation systems. The physical, proximate and energy-related parameters were determined for each biomass. Results obtained revealed the following data: Moisture contents (MC): Maize stalk (6.24%), Maize cob (2.10%), Sugarcane bagasse (2.32%), Cotton stalk (8.87%), Millet stalk (7.86%) and Sorghum stalk (9.12%). Bulk density (ρb): Maize stalk (120.12 kgm-3), Maize cob (160.24 kgm-3), Sugarcane bagasse (84.12 kgm-3), Cotton stalk (178.40 kgm-3), Millet stalk (118.60 kgm-3) and Sorghum stalk (235.28 kgm-3). Volatile Matter Content (V): Maize stalk (78.21%), Maize cob (78.16%), Sugarcane bagasse (76.44%), Cotton stalk (83.10%), Millet stalk (87.56%) and Sorghum stalk (90.10%). Ash Content (Ash C): Maize stalk (18.22%), Maize cob (12.10%), Sugarcane bagasse (18.12%), Cotton stalk (18.24%), Millet stalk (11.63%) and Sorghum stalk (17.82%). Fixed Carbon (FC): Maize stalk (20.56%), Maize cob (19.23%), Sugarcane bagasse (18.11%), Cotton stalk (26.40%), Millet stalk (18.24%) and Sorghum stalk (20.15%). Net Calorific Value (qnet): Maize stalk (307.10GJ/kg), Maize cob (308.18 GJ/kg), Sugarcane bagasse (307.21 GJ/kg), Cotton stalk (308.68 GJ/kg), Millet stalk (288.02 GJ/kg) and Sorghum stalk (276.76 GJ/kg). Fuel Value Index (FVI): Maize stalk (2.60 MJ/kg), Maize cob (14.77 MJ/kg), Sugarcane bagasse (14.75 MJ/kg), Cotton stalk (13.90 MJ/kg), Millet stalk (45.18 MJ/kg) and Sorghum stalk (4.77 MJ/kg). Based on the values of the FVI obtained in this research, it was concluded that all the agricultural residues tested are generally potentially good for materials for use as feed stocks in energy generation systems.