Thermo-Analytical and Physico-Chemical Characterization of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass from an Agro-ecological Zone in Nigeria

Woody (Albizia pedicellaris and Terminalia ivorensis) and non-woody (guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor)) glume and stalk biomass resources from Nigeria were subjected to thermo-analytical and physico-chemical analyses to determine their suitability for thermochemical processing. They were found to have comparably high calorific values (between 16.4 and 20.1 MJ kg-1). The woody biomass had very low ash content (0.32%), while the non-woody biomass had relatively high ash content (7.54%). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the test samples showed significant variation in the decomposition behavior of the individual biomasses. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derivatives indicated the presence of fatty and resin acids in the dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) extracts. Analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) of the samples revealed that the volatiles liberated consisted mostly of acids, alcohols, ketones, phenols, and sugar derivatives. These biomass types were deemed suitable for biofuel applications