Khaya senegalensis and Leucaena leucocephala; Malaysian dedicated energy crop potential species

Abstract

Dedicated energy crop (DEC) serves as a highly promising feedstock for heat and power apart from wastes. Established DEC plant species which include poplar, willow and eucalyptus possess special criteria such as fast growing, high biomass production per unit land area and can be planned in production. Locally available plants such as Leucaena leucocephala and Khaya senegalensis are identified among potential species which can be developed as our own DEC. Therefore, this research was conducted to assess the potential of Khaya senegalensis and Leucaena leucocephala as energy crop. Proximate analysis was executed to establish some important quality of the biomass sample which were moisture content, volatile matters, ash content, and carbon content. Biomass sample was then pelletized and subjected to density and durability testing to evaluate the pellet quality produced. Interestingly, it was found that Khaya senegalensis and Leucaena leucocephala biomass have strong potential to be industrialised as our own dedicated energy crops. The calorific value of both biomass are as good as other established energy crops thereby enlisting these two plant species as Malaysian energy crop.

Pelletization Temperature and Pressure Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Khaya senegalensis Biomass Energy Pellets

“…In addition to its timber, Khaya senegalensis has potential as a biofuel source, as its seeds contain high oil levels. Khaya senegalensis (khaya) can produce high biomass yield per unit area and time, thrive well on marginal soil and resist diseases and pests [7]. In spite of the fact that they have favorable agronomic features, biomass feedstocks are known for their extremely low density, particularly when it comes to the production of energy.…”

“…In terms of pellet production, Khaya senegalensis has been investigated as a potential raw material for biomass pellets due to its availability, high energy content, and low ash content. A number of studies have investigated the pelletization process using Khaya senegalensis [6,7].…”

“…It is established that several feedstocks and process parameters have a strong influence on pellet quality. Fundamental pelletizing parameters, such as biomass composition, moisture content, and particle size, are crucial in producing dense, low-moisture, and uniform pellets [7][8][9][10]. It was reported that the low moisture content of biomass is a suitable feedstock moisture content that produced high-quality pellets compared to higher moisture content feedstock [11].…”