4-04: Natural variability of switchgrass and its impact on feedstock quality for bioenergy production

Understanding the natural variability of biomass is a key challenge to the commercialization of process technologies for the production of fuels, chemicals and products. Genetics, growth environment, harvesting method and time, and storage conditions are just some of the factors that influence biomass chemical composition and therefore its quality. In this presentation, the chemical composition of switchgrass, i.e., ash, extractives, cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin content, will be discussed for several varieties collected at different times in their growth during the first, second, and third growing season of the crop. In addition, the impacts of several storage conditions on the chemical composition of switchgrass bales will be presented. By understanding biomass heterogeneity, an inherent property, and the impacts of all the steps involved in the transition from a diverse collection of biomass to a chemical raw material, processes can be designed and/or process conditions can be optimized to produce a consistent and uniform product from switchgrass that is optimized for specific technologies.