BIOMASS MATERIALS AND THEIR TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS
  

Biomass materials and biomass based industry residues are very important renewable energy sources.   The importance of these materials  as alternate fuels has been well recognized for use in power generation. While the characteristics of biomass vary from different geographical regions, the values for typical biomass materials are indicated for general guidance.

Biomass 

Grade 

Bulk Density Kgs/M3

Ash Content%

C%

 H %
N%
O%

Calorific Value Kcal/Kg.

Castor stick 

 

 

5.40

45.97

6.65

1.28

40.70

4300

Castor Seed Shell 

 

 

8.00

44.25

5.65

0.16

41.94

3860

Corn cobs 

11% moisture 

304 

1.20

41.44

5.96

0.14

51.26

 

Cotton pods 

 

 

5.01

41.49

6.20

1.81

45.49

4200

Cotton stalk 

 

 

3.01

41.49

6.20

1.81

47.49

4200

Saw dust 

Loose 

177 

1.20

52.28

5.20

0.47

40.85

4400 

Straw 

Loose 

80 

15.50

35.97

5.28

0.17

43.08

3700

Straw 

Bales 

320 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wood (hard)

---

330 

 1.50

52.30

5.20

0.50 

42.00 

4400 

Bagasse 

0.12 

74 

4.00

47.00 

6.50 

0.0 

42.50 

4200

Coir pith 

0.12 

47 

13.60

41.27

4.02

1.51

39.60

4100 

Cotton shell 

0.21 

79 

4.60

44.19

5.87

0.73

44.61

4200 

Coconut Wastes 

 

 

6.31

46.69

5.89

0.07

41.04

3720

Coffee Husk 

 

 

11.61

46.46

6.26

0.72

34.95

3745

Eucalyptus Saw dust 

0.12

239 

0.21

49.37

6.39

2.02

42.01

4400

Ground nut shell 

0.15 

165 

3.10

33.90

1.97

1.10

59.93

4500

Mulberry stick 

 

 

2.49

44.23

6.61

0.51

46.25

4380

Rice husk 

0.12 

235 

22.20

36.42

4.91

0.59

35.88

3200

Sun flower stalk 

0.12 

93 

 4.30

44.20 

5.50 

0.50 

45.50 

4300 

Sugar cane leaves 

0.13 

167 

7.71

39.75

5.55

0.17

46.82

4200

Saw dust 

0.12 

165 

1.20

52.28

5.20

0.47

40.85

4500

Subabul 

 

 

1.20

42.76

5.68

1.07

49.29

3980

Sweet sorghum stalk 

 

 

7.40

41.83

5.90

0.53

44.34

4100 

Tobacco dust 

0.18 

586 

49.40

19.94

1.63

4.35

24.68

1164 

Tea waste 

0.17 

100 

6.70

45.97

5.40

2.76

39.17

 4000

Tobacco stem 

 

 

20.6 

28.30 

4.50 

1.00 

45.60 

3041 

Source :Book titled "BIOMASS , Thermo-chemical characterisation"  Published by IIT, New Delh