Artur Kraszkiewicz

Profile of Fatty Acids and Spectroscopic Characteristics of Selected Vegetable Oils Extracted by Cold Maceration

Abstract Biodiesel has become more attractive material for its properties such as biodegradability, renewability and very low toxicity of its combustion products. A higher quality of this fuel is essential in its potential commercialization. Analytical methods used in biodiesel analysis are constantly refined. The most popular analytical techniques include chromatography and molecular spectroscopy. The ATR-FTIR spectroscopy is one of the most important methods of spectroscopy. This paper presents the results of studies on selected oils of natural origin using ATR-FTIR infrared absorption spectroscopy. Three types of oils from pumpkin seeds and winter rapeseed were analysed. The main fatty acids were also determined in all the samples.

Assessment of Quality Characteristics of Briquettes Produced From Selected Wood Waste

The paper presents evaluation of the quality characteristics of briquettes produced from selected wood waste, whose use is part of a sustainable farming policy. The following types of wood waste were used in the study: poplar sawdust, poplar bark, oak shavings and oak bark. In order to crush the poplar and oak bark, a beater shredder was used. Briquettes were made using hydraulic piston briquetting machine. During the briquetting process, the working pressure was 8 MPa. Depending on the type of waste used, the briquettes produced differed in their qualities. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, it was found that the characteristics of produced briquettes were influenced by such factors as the type of raw material, its humidity and fragmentation. The best quality features characterized briquettes made of oak bark and the least advantageous of oak shavings. INTRODUCTION The Sustainable Agriculture Strategy fosters environmental protection in rural areas, which is linked to increased use of renewable energy sources. Wood waste is a valuable energy resource and they fit in this strategy. It can be used to produce electricity, heat, and liquid and gaseous fuels. Remnants of the trees, waste from sawmills or branches of orchards can be burned in the form of sliced wood, chips, and processed into pellets or briquettes (Hejft & Obidziński, 2015; Niedziółka et al., 2016). This allows full use of the raw material. This type of fuel is not harmful to the environment. Carbon dioxide, which is emitted to the atmosphere during combustion, is completely absorbed by plants reproducing biomass in the process of photosynthesis. In addition, wood is the fuel that leaves the minimum amount of ash after burning (Kachel-Jakubowska et al., 2013; Mc Kendry, 2002; Panwar et al., 2011). Wood, which is a major part of biomass, is the most widely used renewable energy source in Europe. It occurs in the form of shavings from perennial trees (e.g. willow, poplar) as well as chips, sawdust and wood dust (Ivanova et al., 2014). The popular way to use wood fractions is to produce pellets and briquettes for energy purposes. In addition, the generation of energy from wood waste is profitable, because prices of these fuels on the market are competitive relative to fossil fuels (Frączek, 2010; Shawa et al., 2009). Besides wood waste, straw and specially developed energy crops can be used for the production of heat. These raw materials are the biomass, which is included in renewable energy sources, including solar, geothermal, wind and river energy, agricultural biogas, and landfill and sewage treatment plants (Demirbas, 2004; Dreszer et al., 2003). Poland is characterized by the high potential of biomass used for energy purposes. It has considerable potential for development of agro-energy, especially based on the production of perennial energy crops. Hence, most biomass used for power generation is produced in the country (Kołodziej & Matyka, 2012; Niedziółka, 2014).

Comparision of Physicochemical Parameters of Rape Seeds Applying the Infrared Spectroscopy Method

Technical progression in sustainable agriculture requires the need for search more and newer analytical methods in order to reduce time of analysis and to minimize costs routine of tests for the highest accuracy of the result. Infrared (IR) and near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides such possibility. The paper presents a method of measuring the basic quality parameters (moisture, content of protein, fat, damage and contamination of raw material) of winter rapeseed for cultivars: Abacus, Bellevue, and Adriana+Catana concoction. Statistically significant differences resulting from various measurement systems between results obtained by means of sieve methods and infrared (IR), were observed. A three-dimensional way of measuring the seed shape used in three dimensional particle size analyzer (AWK 3D) suggests that it is more accurate than the measurement applying two-dimensional method used in the shaker with a set of sieves.

Possibilities of Using Waste after Pressing Oil from Oilseeds for Energy Purposes

Abstract Currently, many countries are establishing goals for substituting fossil fuels with biomass. This global trade in solid biofuels, which is to some extent already taking place, will have a major impact not only on other commodity markets like vegetable oils or animal fodder but also on the global land use change and on environmental impacts. It demonstrates the strong but complex link between biofuels production and the global food market, it unveils policy measures as the main drivers for production and use of biofuels and it analyzes various sustainability indicators and certification schemes for biofuels with respect to minimizing the adverse effects of biofuels. Biomass is seen as a very promising option for fulfilling the environmental goals defined by the European Commission as well as various national governments. We have measured selected physicochemical properties of several the most common oilseeds and the residue materials in the form of cakes, moisture, fat, heat of combustion, the calorific value and ash content. The results showed that the considered plants and waste derived therefrom can be a good energy source. Examples include sunflower oilcake, sesame, pumpkin and rapeseed cake, for which the calorific value amounted to respectively: 28.17; 27.77; 26.42 and 21.69 MJ·kg−1.

Influence of chemical properties of biomass plant agricultural origin on outlays energy incurred during the production of pellets.

In this study, was analysed made the measurements of the content of water, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and chlorine in plant biomass of agricultural origin in the context of the impact of these features on the energy expenditures incurred in its pelleting. For the examined raw materials statistical analysis results showed negative linear trend between energy expenditures and: water content, total sulfur and chlorine. Positive linear trend between energy expenditures and: contents of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Wherein the coefficients of correlation expenditures energy and: carbon, hydrogen and chlorine are significant p<0.05.