Comparative analysis of the chemical composition and biofuel properties of conifer cone residues from different species

Öz

This study aims to investigate the biofuel potential of cone residues from four coniferous species [Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.), Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.), Black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)] from the Isparta region. Cone samples are materials that can be considered waste biomass after seed extraction and have the potential to serve as an alternative source for energy production due to their lignocellulosic structure. The study determined the calorific values, volatile matter, ash, sulphur content, and elemental composition of the samples, and also identified their characteristic functional groups using FT-IR analysis. According to the results obtained, the calorific values of pine cone samples ranged between 3954–5050 kcal/kg and were comparable to wood-based biomass. The volatile matter ratios of 58–64% and sulphur contents of 0.02–0.10% indicated that these materials are environmentally clean fuels. FT-IR analyses confirmed the presence of characteristic O–H, C–H, C=O, and C–O functional groups associated with the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose structure in all species. As a result, it has been determined that pine cones, particularly those from the Toros cedar and red pine, are suitable raw materials for biofuel production due to their high energy content and low ash and sulphur content. These findings indicate that pine cone residues can be utilized in renewable energy production, thereby contributing to sustainable forest management and waste biomass recovery.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Biomass energy
• Calorific value
• Cone residues
• Coniferous species
• Non-wood forest products
• Volatile matter

Farklı türlerden elde edilen kozalak kalıntılarının kimyasal bileşimi ve biyoyakıt özelliklerinin karşılaştırmalı analizi

Öz

Bu çalışma, Isparta yöresinden farklı yükseltilerden toplanan dört iğne yapraklı türün [Toros sediri (Cedrus libani A. Rich.), kızılçam (Pinus brutia Ten.), karaçam (Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) ve sarıçam (Pinus sylvestris L.)] kozalak artıklarının biyoyakıt potansiyelini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Kozalak örnekleri, tohum çıkarımı sonrasında atık biyokütle olarak değerlendirilebilecek materyaller olup, lignoselülozik yapıları sayesinde enerji üretiminde alternatif bir kaynak oluşturma potansiyeline sahiptir. Çalışmada numunelerin kalorifik değerleri, uçucu madde, kül, kükürt içerikleri ve elementel bileşimleri belirlenmiş, ayrıca FT-IR analizleriyle karakteristik fonksiyonel grupları tanımlanmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre kozalak örneklerinin kalorifik değerleri 3954–5050 kcal/kg arasında değişmiş ve odun temelli biyokütlelerle karşılaştırılabilir düzeyde bulunmuştur. Uçucu madde oranlarının %58–64, kükürt içeriklerinin %0,02–0,10 aralığında olması, bu materyallerin çevre açısından temiz yakıt özelliğine sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. FT-IR analizleri, tüm türlerde lignin, selüloz ve hemiselüloz yapısına ait karakteristik O–H, C–H, C=O ve C–O fonksiyonel gruplarının varlığını doğrulamıştır. Sonuç olarak, özellikle Toros sediri ve kızılçam kozalaklarının yüksek enerji içeriği, düşük kül ve kükürt oranlarıyla biyoyakıt üretiminde kullanılabilecek uygun hammaddeler olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu bulgular, kozalak artıklarının yenilenebilir enerji üretiminde değerlendirilerek sürdürülebilir orman yönetimine ve atık biyokütle geri kazanımına katkı sağlayabileceğini göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Biyokütle enerjisi
• Kozalak artıkları
• İğne yapraklı türler
• Kalorifik değer
• Odun dışı orman ürünleri
• Uçucu madde

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