With the increased emphasis in the utilization of biomass for energy, the interest in wood as an energy resource has moved from just mill residues to include in-woods residues. This study looked at five examples of in-woods biomass collection: two chipping operations and three grinding operations. Samples were taken from three truckloads at each operation and analyzed for particle size distribution, moisture content, British thermal unit value per ovendry pound, and ash content. The average characteristics of the processed residue were 87 percent moisture content, 7,945 Btu/lb oven dried, and 3.1 percent ash content.
Contributor Notes
The authors are, respectively, Professor Emeritus, Forest Products Utilization (pattersond@uamont.edu), Program Technician (hartley@uamont.edu), and Professor and Clippert Chair, Forest Economics (pelkki@uamont.edu), Arkansas Forest Resources Center, Univ. of Arkansas at Monticello. Mention of a company name or model number of equipment does not constitute endorsement either for or against by the authors or funding agencies. The equipment is named to provide the readers with a better understanding of the operations involved. This paper was received for publication in March 2011. Article no. 11-00044.