Physicochemical and Structural Analyses of Biomass for Bioenergy Production

The widespread utilization of fossil fuels while driving economic progress has raised pressing concerns about environmental degradation and climate change. As a response to these challenges, the exploration of renewable energy sources has become paramount. Biomass, as a renewable energy, stands as a promising option. This paper presents a comprehensive characterization of three Nigerian biomass sources: cashew leaves, lemongrass, and corncob employing a range of characterization techniques, including proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. These analyses were conducted in accordance with ASTM standards. The combustion characteristics of the biomass unveil their potential as viable feedstock for bio-oil production. The ultimate analysis further demonstrated the environmentally friendly nature of the samples, as they exhibited low nitrogen and sulphur contents (less than 1%), positioning them as sustainable alternatives in the quest for cleaner energy sources.