Higher and lower heating values of selected lignocellulose materials

Biomass is a promising alternative energy source. The most common raw material is straw in the form of bales, briquettes and pellets, although considerable demand is also observed for other energy crops. Introduced alien plants are used for various purposes: as fodder, in fermentation and as energy crops. This study aimed at the determination of higher heating value of plants of three species from the families Miscanthus and Sorgum in terms of their potential use as energy source before and after methane fermentation. Higher heating value of the tested raw materials was high both before and after the fermentation process.