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Arundo donax
Arundo donax (Adx) is a fast-growing reedy grass. Arundo donax
has potential as a bioenergy feedstock for several conversion
processes. Dried Arundo has an estimated direct combustion High Heating
Value (HHV) of approximately 8000 BTUs/lb. Arundo is also being
considered as a candidate for gasification and cellulosic ethanol conversion.
Cultivation & Yield:
It can yield about 11000 l of ethanol per hectare; about 30-40 T of biomass per hectare. Florida has shown higher annual yields of giant reed compared to bamboo and switchgrass
Corn - 4400 l/ha,
Switch grass - 4600,
Sugarcane - 8800,
Arundo donax - 11000 l/h
Arundo donax is a biofuel crop suited for use on saline land using saline wastewater
Distribution:
Arundo donax was
introduced from the Mediterranean to California in the 1820s as roofing
material and for erosion control in drainage canals in the Los Angeles
area (Bell 1997; Mackenzie 2004). Through spreading and subsequent
plantings as an ornamental plant, and for use as reeds in woodwind
instruments, it has become naturalized throughout warm coastal
freshwaters of North America, and its range continues to spread. It has
also been planted widely throughout South America and Australasia
(Boose and Holt 1999; Bell 1997).
Arundo
donax grows abundantly in India, up to 2400 meters above sea level in
the Himalayas, and it has spread to the east to Burma and China. Arundo
donax has also been successfully introduced in South Africa, Australia
and in many of the islands in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Arundo
donax has been widely planted throughout the warmer areas of the U.S.
as an ornamental plant.
Advantages of Arundo donax
- Huge biomass yields [over 45 t/ha/year] without pesticides (environmentally friendly).
- Its yield is much higher than those of Eucalyptus; 3 times the biomass yield of forage sorghum.
- Can remove large amounts of nutrients and water from wastes
- Potential for treating saline wastewaters or pollutants (bioremediation)
- Does not produce viable seed; weed risk managed by site selection and crop hygiene
- Tolerates extreme salinity: a halophyte, tolerates waterlogging, salinity, drought and pH range of 3 - 9
Disadvantages of Arundo donax
- Arundo donax could prove to be an invasive species that could do considerable harm to the ecology. It interferes with wildlife habitat management.
- Giant reed displaces native plants and associated wildlife species because of the massive stands it forms. Competition with native species has been shown to result from monopolization of soil moisture and by shading.
- Giant reed is also suspected of altering hydrological regimes and reducing groundwater availability by transpiring large amounts of water from semi-arid aquifers. It alters channel morphology by retaining sediments and constricting flows, and in some case, may reduce stream navigability.
- Dense growth presents fire hazards, often near urbanized areas, more than doubling the available fuel for wildfires and promoting post-fire regeneration of even greater quantities of giant reed.
Uses of Arundo donax
- Combustion (Heat and power)
- Ethanol or pulp / paper
- Wind breaks, building materials, fencing
- Breaks down pollutants
- Very high nutrient and water uptake [wastewater reduction]
- Musical reeds for 5000 yrs
- Animal fodder - young stems less than 2 meters high
- Bioremediation - soil/water/ Arundo donax plant systems break down pollutants. Intensive root system of Arundo donax (Phytoreactor to breakdown pollutants)
- Sewage and urban wastewaters
- Halogenated residues (USA)
- N, P and S rich wastewaters Adx for nutrient stripping wastes
- Saline waste waters reduce volumes by transpiration through Adx
Recycling and Energy Generation Plant: This is a project to grow Arundo Donax on 10,000 acres of land providing 350,000-400,000 tons biomass per annum. The plant utilizes the latest technology and emissions are non-polluting. Venture capital of US$160-200 Million is needed for the project to be installed in Jamaica. The modular design will enable it to be replicated in hundreds of locations all over the world. The project will provide employment of over 1500 workers; produce electricity, biofuels, organic fertiliser and tons of carbon credits - http://synergistsclub.org/projectswebsite.html
Florida-based Biomass Investment Group (BIG) is embarking on a project using Arundo donax as an energy crop that will be grown on 20,000 acres (8000ha). The biomass will be converted into bio-oil, a heavy fuel oil, via a fast-pyrolysis process (for more on this process see previous post). This carbon-neutral oil will then be used in a power plant that will provide electricity to some 80,000 Floridian households - Dec 2006
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