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Impact of Harvest Time and Cultivar on Conversion of Switchgrass to Bio-oils Via Fast Pyrolysis

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Abstract

The study of the effects of harvest time on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) biomass and bioenergy production reported herein encompasses a large study evaluating the harvest of six switchgrass cultivars grown at three northern US locations over 3 years, harvested at upland peak crop (anthesis), post-frost, and post-winter. Delaying harvest of switchgrass until after frost and until after winter has resulted in decreased yields of switchgrass and reduced amounts of minerals in the biomass. This report examines how changes in biomass composition as a result of varying harvest time and other factors affect the distribution of products formed via fast pyrolysis. A subset (50) of the population (n = 864) was analyzed for fast pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis (zeolite catalyst) product yields using a pyrolysis-GC/MS system. The subset was used to build calibrations that were successful in predicting the pyrolysis product yield using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), and partial least squares predictive models were applied to the entire sample set. The pyrolysis product yield was significantly affected by the field trial location, year of harvest, cultivar, and harvest time. Delaying harvest time of the switchgrass crop led to greater production of deoxygenated aromatics improving the efficiency of the catalytic fast pyrolysis and bio-oil quality. The changes in the pyrolysis product yield were related to biomass compositional changes, and key relationships between cell wall polymers, potassium concentration in the biomass, and pyrolysis products were identified. The findings show that the loss of minerals in the biomass as harvest time is delayed combined with the greater proportion in cellulose and lignin in the biomass has significant positive influences on conversion through fast pyrolysis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grant #2011-68005-30411. The authors thank Mary Cheetham for assistance with py-GC/MS analysis. Appreciation is also extended to Jacob Karlen for his technical assistance and NIRS analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eastern Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038, USA

    Michelle J. Serapiglia, Charles A. Mullen & Akwasi A. Boateng

  2. National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, USDA-ARS, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Bruce S. Dien

  3. US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-ARS, 1925 Linden Drive W., Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Michael D. Casler

Authors
  1. Michelle J. Serapiglia
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  2. Charles A. Mullen
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  3. Akwasi A. Boateng
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  4. Bruce S. Dien
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  5. Michael D. Casler
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Correspondence to Michael D. Casler.

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Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Serapiglia, M.J., Mullen, C.A., Boateng, A.A. et al. Impact of Harvest Time and Cultivar on Conversion of Switchgrass to Bio-oils Via Fast Pyrolysis. Bioenerg. Res. 10, 388–399 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-016-9812-5

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