TY - JOUR
T1 - New insights on the estimation of the anaerobic biodegradability of plant material
T2 - Identifying valuable plants for sustainable energy production
AU - Pabón-Pereira, Claudia P.
AU - Hamelers, H.V.M.
AU - Matilla, Irene
AU - van Lier, Jules B.
PY - 2020/7
Y1 - 2020/7
N2 - Based on fifteen European plant species, a statistical model for the estimation of the anaerobic biodegradability of plant material was developed. We show that this new approach represents an accurate and cost-eective method to identify valuable energy plants for sustainable energy production. In particular, anaerobic biodegradability (Bo) of lignocellulosic material was empirically found to be related to the amount of cellulose plus lignin, as analytically assessed by the van Soest method, i.e., the acid detergent fiber (ADF) value. Apart from being theoretically meaningful, the ADF-based empirical model requires the least eort compared to the other four proposed conceptual models proposed, as individual fractions of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin do not need to be assessed, which also enhances the predictive accuracy of the model's estimation. The model's results showed great predictability power, allowing us to identify interesting crops for sustainable crop rotations. Finally, the model was used to predict Bo of 114 European plant samples that had been previously characterized by means of the van Soest method.
AB - Based on fifteen European plant species, a statistical model for the estimation of the anaerobic biodegradability of plant material was developed. We show that this new approach represents an accurate and cost-eective method to identify valuable energy plants for sustainable energy production. In particular, anaerobic biodegradability (Bo) of lignocellulosic material was empirically found to be related to the amount of cellulose plus lignin, as analytically assessed by the van Soest method, i.e., the acid detergent fiber (ADF) value. Apart from being theoretically meaningful, the ADF-based empirical model requires the least eort compared to the other four proposed conceptual models proposed, as individual fractions of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin do not need to be assessed, which also enhances the predictive accuracy of the model's estimation. The model's results showed great predictability power, allowing us to identify interesting crops for sustainable crop rotations. Finally, the model was used to predict Bo of 114 European plant samples that had been previously characterized by means of the van Soest method.
KW - Anaerobic digestion
KW - Biodegradability
KW - Fiber degradation
KW - Lignocellulosics
U2 - 10.3390/pr8070806
DO - 10.3390/pr8070806
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85088567897
SN - 2227-9717
VL - 8
JO - Processes
JF - Processes
IS - 7
M1 - 806
ER -