We assess the possibility of using biochar and ash from plant biomass to fertilise giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus). The paper concerns the optimisation of the combination of fertiliser applications of the aforementioned materials in the context of the plant yield obtained. There was an increase in yield of 8–68% over the two years of research when compared with the control plots. It was found that the application of biochar, ash from biomass and a combination of the two at appropriate rates as a soil additive can substitute for classic mineral fertilisers and strengthen the ecological aspects of energy crop cultivation. The interpretation of the results obtained enabled the selection of optimum fertiliser applications, resulting in a significant increase in the yield of plants and an improvement in soil chemical properties. It was found that the highest yield of dry matter of giant miscanthus plants, after both the first and second year of cultivation, was obtained by applying the fertiliser containing ash at a rate of 1.5 t ha−1, together with biocarbon and the combination of biochar and ash at a rate of 1.5 t ha−1.

The growing demand for electricity, caused by dynamic economic growth, leads to a decrease in the available non-renewable energy resources constituting the foundation of global power generation. A search for alternative sources of energy that can support conventional energy technologies utilizing fossil fuels is not only of key significance for the power industry but is also important from the point of view of environmental conservation and sustainable development. Plant biomass, with its specific chemical structure and high calorific value, is a promising renewable source of energy which can be utilized in numerous conversion processes, enabling the production of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Methods of thermal biomass conversion include pyrolysis, i.e., a process allowing one to obtain a multifunctional product known as biochar. The article presents a review of information related to the broad uses of carbonization products. It also discusses the legal aspects and quality standards applicable to these materials. The paper draws attention to the lack of uniform legal and quality conditions, which would allow for a much better use of biochar. The review also aims to highlight the high potential for a use of biochar in different environments. The presented text attempts to emphasize the importance of biochar as an alternative to classic products used for energy, environmental and agricultural purposes.

Raman spectroscopy is one of the main analytical techniques used in optical metrology. It is a vibration, marker-free technique that provides insight into the structure and composition of tissues and cells at the molecular level. Raman spectroscopy is an outstanding material identification technique. It provides spatial information of vibrations from complex biological samples which renders it a very accurate tool for the analysis of highly complex plant tissues. Raman spectra can be used as a fingerprint tool for a very wide range of compounds. Raman spectroscopy enables all the polymers that build the cell walls of plants to be tracked simultaneously; it facilitates the analysis of both the molecular composition and the molecular structure of cell walls. Due to its high sensitivity to even minute structural changes, this method is used for comparative tests. The introduction of new and improved Raman techniques by scientists as well as the constant technological development of the apparatus has resulted in an increased importance of Raman spectroscopy in the discovery and defining of tissues and the processes taking place in them.

Waste biomass from plant production is an important raw material for producing energy from renewable sources. Capabilities and technologies of processing are still being improved and modernized in order to achieve the highest energy efficiency. This study assesses energetic properties of wheat straw, rapeseed, and willow. The material was subjected to heat treatment, i.e., torrefaction process at temperatures of 220, 260, and 300 °C for the duration of 60, 75, and 90 min. Measurements were performed to compare parameters of raw biomass and the torrefied products. The materials were examined and compared for the contents of moisture; biogenic elements N, C, and H; as well as calorific value, ash, and volatiles. Measurements were also performed to assess the composition of biomass in terms of particle sizes. Analysis of the results made it possible to determine optimal parameters for carrying out the torrefaction process. The use of the torrefaction process made it possible to obtain a material with an increased calorific value by more than 20%, and a 2–3 times higher content of elements in the powdered material, as well as to improve the grinding of the material. This information will enable the development of biomass thermal treatment technologies towards the use of waste biomass from agricultural production.

This article presents the findings of a study investigating the feasibility of using a magnetic field assisted technique for the water-based extraction of mineral components, polyphenols, and caffeine from dry black and green tea leaves. The authors present a concept of applying constant and variable magnetic fields in the process of producing water-based infusions from selected types of tea. Analyses investigating the effectiveness of the proposed technique in comparison with conventional infusion methods assessed the contents of selected mineral components—i.e., Al, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, P, S, and Zn—which were examined with the use of ICP-OES. The contents of caffeine and polyphenolic compounds were assessed using the HPLC. A changing magnetic field permitted an increased effectiveness of extraction of the mineral components, caffeine, and polyphenols. The findings support the conclusion that a changing magnetic field assisted extraction method is useful for obtaining biologically valuable components from tea infusions.