Mineral Concentration and ash content of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrader ex Wendland var. vulgaris) culm growth stages in three ecological zones in Ghana

Abstract

This work examines how ash and the mineral elements in four bamboo culm growth stages (shoot, juvenile, mature and dead) can affect fuel conversion technology plants through slagging, fouling, and corrosion. 48 samples consisting of the shoot; juvenile; mature and dead culms were tested for ash content and ash mineral elements. The mean values of ash contents of the bamboo culm growth stages across the three ecological zones were from 0.93% to 2.11%. The contents were within the threshold approved in the EN standards EN 14775 ≥3%. The mean values of carbon across the culm growth stages ranged from 48.46% to 53.31%. Hydrogen among the bamboo culms ranged from 5.60 to 7.04%. Higher carbon and hydrogen contents lead to higher heating values. Nitrogen among the culm growth stages ranged from 0.31 to 0.79%. The concentration levels of N in the culms were within the threshold prescribed in the EN standards EN 15104 ≥ 1%. The mean Cu concentration of mature culms ranged from 0.89-1.31 ppm; Zn ranged from 2.74-3.25 ppm; As varies from 0.055 to 0.078 ppm; Ni ranges from 0.43-0.85 ppm and Cd in the mature bamboo culm ranged from 0.81 to 3.66 ppm. Amount the minor ash elementals calcium in the mature culm ranged from 16.70 to 26.49 ppm; potassium (K) from 0.42-2.45 ppm and Mg from Ca and Mg contents increases the melting point of ash K content lowers the melting point of ash which can cause slagging. The concentrations of minor and heavy metals were below the standard set by EN 1496 1-2 and therefore may not cause problems to human health or slagging to combustion plants for the production of biofuels.