Analysis of logging forest residues as an energy source

Forest residue extraction levels in Greece are currently very low, but logging residues have the potential to be an important component of the wood energy supply chain. Forests are a major supplier of renewable energy. Exploring the possibilities of utilizing the biomass of logging residues for energyrequires analysis and knowledge of its properties. In this research work the properties (ash, volatiles, fixed carbon, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and calorific value) of the various constituents of the biomass of fir (Abies borisii - regis), pine (Pinus nigra), oak (Quercus frainetto) and beech (Fagus silvatica) logging residues were determined. Bark and ash content increased with decreasing diameter of branches. Ash content was higher in bark than in wood of branches in all species. Ash and nitrogen content was several times higher in bark and in foliage or needles than in wood of branches. Oak branches and twigs of all species had ash and nitrogen content higher than that required by the EN ISO 17225-2 standard for domestic pellets and they should not be used for energy, at least for pellets production. Volatile mater, fixed carbon, carbon and hydrogen content were in the range given by other researchers. Heating value is higher in softwood (fir and pine) than in hardwood (oak and beech) and ranged from 18.72 MJ/kg to 21.00 MJ/kg.In addition, Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare the means between the various constituents in all species

Long-term studies on switchgrass grown on a marginal area in Greece under different varieties and nitrogen fertilization rates

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial grass that has been selected as a candidate bioenergy crop for USA in the early 80s, while the research in Europe started a decade later. A long-term study on switchgrass had been carried out (1998\ue2\u80\u932015) on a marginal area in Greece comparing five varieties (having lowland or upland ecotype) at increasing nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 75 and 150 kg N ha\ue2\u88\u921). Due to the successful establishment of the plantation quite satisfactory yields were recorded even at the establishment year (8.9 Mg DM ha\ue2\u88\u921) and the ceiling yields were recorded in the 2nd year and came up to 20 Mg DM ha\ue2\u88\u921. The under study lowland varieties (Alamo, Kanlow and Pangburn) were more productive compared to the upland varieties (Blackwell and CIR) with mean dry yields 12.37 and 11.39 Mg ha\ue2\u88\u921, respectively and showed higher resistance to lodging. Among the five under study varieties, Alamo was the best performing giving an average yield of 12.7 Mg DM ha\ue2\u88\u921, averaged over all treatments and years, while CIR was the least performing producing a corresponding average yield of 10.8 Mg DM ha\ue2\u88\u921. From the fourth growing season and onwards significantly higher yields were recorded under increasing N fertilization up to 150 kg N ha\ue2\u88\u921 with an average yield of 13.9 Mg DM ha\ue2\u88\u921 (150 kg N/ha) over all varieties and years. The corresponding yields for the other two tested nitrogen rates (0 and 75 kg N/ha) were 10.31 and 11.69 Mg DM ha\ue2\u88\u921, respectively

Comparative studies on several castor (Ricinus communis L.) hybrids: Growth, yields, seed oil and biomass characterization

For three growing periods (2011, 2012 & 2014) a total number of tencastor hybrids (Kaiima 71, Kaiima 75, Kaiima 93, C854, C855, C856, C 857, C864, C1002 and C1008) were tested in Greece (Aliartos; 2011, 2012 & 2014) and Italy (Cadriano; 2014) in order to compare the seed yields and straw production as well as to evaluate residual straw as solid biofuel. In Greece, the mean seed yields, was 2.77. t/ha and ranged from 1.68. t/ha (C865, 2012) to 4.27. t/ha (Kaiima 93, 2011). Correspondingly, the mean oil content of the castor seeds was 48.12% with a range from 45.5% (C1008, 2014) to 52.1% (Kaiima 75, 2011). In Italy, the mean seed yields was 2.46. t/ha and varied from 0.94. ton/ha (C855) to 4.44. ton/ha (C856). In both sites the seed yields were significantly affected by the hybrid. In terms of the common tested hybrids (C855, C856, C864 and C1008) it was found that the best performed hybrid in Greece was C855 with seed yields 3.87. t/ha, while in Italy was C856 with 4.44. t/ha. The remaining dry biomassyields varied from 0.88. t/ha (2012) to 2.86. t/ha (2011). The gross calorific value (GCV) of the remaining biomass was 4035. kcal/kg and the net calorific value (NCV) was 3852. kcal/kg. The ash content was quite high, varied from 9.21% (Kaiima 93, 2012) to 11.75% (C864, 2012), while the nitrogen content was quite low, ranged from 0.73% (C855) to 0.94% (Kaiima 93)

Alt 177 'Options for achieving the target of 45 Mtoe from energy cops in the EU in 2010' : Biomass

VokKVA. Yksikön huom.: KV

Region-Specific Nutrient Intake Patterns Exhibit a Geographical Gradient within and between European Countries

Until recently, the study of nutrient patterns was hampered at an international level by a lack of standardization of both dietary methods and nutrient databases. We aimed to describe the diversity of nutrient patterns in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study at population level as a starting point for future nutrient pattern analyses and their associations with chronic diseases in multi-center studies. In this cross-sectional study, 36,034 persons aged 35-74 y were administered a single, standardized 24-h dietary recall. Intake of 25 nutrients (excluding intake from dietary supplements) was estimated using a standardized nutrient database. We used a graphic presentation of mean nutrient intakes by region and sex relative to the overall EPIC means to contrast patterns within and between 10 European countries. In Mediterranean regions, including Greece, Italy, and the southern centers of Spain, the nutrient pattern was dominated by relatively high intakes of vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), whereas intakes of retinol and vitamin D were relatively low. In contrast, in Nordic countries, including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, reported intake of these same nutrients resulted in almost the opposite pattern. Population groups in Germany, The Netherlands, and the UK shared a fatty acid pattern of relatively high intakes of PUFA and SFA and relatively low intakes of MUFA, in combination with a relatively high intake of sugar. We confirmed large variability in nutrient intakes across the EPIC study populations and identified 3 main region-specific patterns with a geographical gradient within and between European countries. J. Nutr. 140: 1280-1286, 2010

Region-specific nutrient intake patterns exhibit a geographical gradient within and between European countries

Until recently, the study of nutrient patterns was hampered at an international level by a lack of standardization of both dietary methods and nutrient databases. We aimed to describe the diversity of nutrient patterns in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study at population level as a starting point for future nutrient pattern analyses and their associations with chronic diseases in multi-center studies. In this cross-sectional study, 36,034 persons aged 35-74 y were administered a single, standardized 24-h dietary recall. Intake of 25 nutrients (excluding intake from dietary supplements) was estimated using a standardized nutrient database. We used a graphic presentation of mean nutrient intakes by region and sex relative to the overall EPIC means to contrast patterns within and between 10 European countries. In Mediterranean regions, including Greece, Italy, and the southern centers of Spain, the nutrient pattern was dominated by relatively high intakes of vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), whereas intakes of retinol and vitamin D were relatively low. In contrast, in Nordic countries, including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, reported intake of these same nutrients resulted in almost the opposite pattern. Population groups in Germany, The Netherlands, and the UK shared a fatty acid pattern of relatively high intakes of PUFA and SFA and relatively low intakes of MUFA, in combination with a relatively high intake of sugar. We confirmed large variability in nutrient intakes across the EPIC study populations and identified 3 main region-specific patterns with a geographical gradient within and between European countries