Conversion to Biogas of Herbaceous Plants, Used for Oil Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soils Cleaning

Abstract

Fossil fuel demand growth in and price fluctuation, depletion resources and supply monopolize, climate change is forcing the restructuring of energy and other industrial and transport area, seeking for renewable energy sources. Using phytoremedial methods in biomass engineering, there is a possibility to create a sustainable method of biomass growth in mid-low contaminated sites soil system. Main aim of the research was to assess the oil-contaminated soil treatment herbaceous plants and their subsequent use for biogas production in order to create a closed cleaning and plant biomass utilization cycle. After the evaluation of the biogas yield and energy conversion efficiency performance it was found that all of the selected herbaceous plant biomass is suitable as raw material for the production of biogas. The biogas potential of selected plants ranged from 377.2 to 822.9 l/kg dry organic matter with an energy value ranging from 7.1 MJ/kg to 17.1 MJ/kg.