Literature review

rice
Rice straw for generation of power: Currently, bioenergy is the largest renewable
energy source globally and accounts for more than 2/3rd of the renewable energy
mix. In the overall energy scenario, bioenergy accounts for 13% –14% of the total
energy consumption (Fig. 4). Crop residues, in particular, are one of the largest
biomass resources globally
and the best options for use to produce bioenergy (Yadav et al. 2015, Kargbo et al.
2010). In India, Punjab Biomass

Limited in village Ghanaur of Patiala Distt. (Punjab) was the first power plant
working on rice straw for the pro-duction of power with a capacity of 12 MW Power
(Vagg 2015). In Zimbabwe, 47 % of the energy consumed is taken from biomass and
major part of this biomass is the residue of crops (Yadav et al. 2015). The thermal
efficiency of rice straw is approximately 60-75 % which may further depend on the
technology used in its combustion. The two main ob-stacles for rice straw to be
considered as a biomass fuel are logistics and consistency of product (Vagg 2015).
Uniform combustion of straw takes place when baled form of straw is converted into
shredded form (Verma 2014

straw as combustion material: Rice straw can also be used as a feedstuff, fuel,
industrial raw material, and fertilizer. For the combustion of agriculture wastage,
combustors are used as grate-fired and fluidized bed or suspension burners systems.
Grate-firing systems have many benefits like low investment cost, handle rice straw
contains 65% water by weight, and little dust particles in flue gases. For the
combustion of both biomass and coal, fluidized beds combustors are used. Fluidized
beds combustors have higher combustion intensity when compared to the grate-firing
system, and NO2 emission is highly controlled in fluidized beds system (Zhi-
qiang et al. 2011). It was investigated that if the moisture content in a baled straw is
more than 25 %, then fermentation of straw starts. Moreover, it is expensive to
transfer straw with moisture from one place to another (Zhiqiang et al. 2011).
Lots of parameters should be considered while designing a large-scale rice straw
combustion system. These parameters are volatile matter content, the mean value, the
possibility of moisture, agglomeration characteristics, ash composition, ash content,
and energy content of the fuel. Various by-prod-ucts like bottom ash, fly ash, etc.
produced have economic value, and these may be further used in the manufacturing
of bricks, cement, embankments, and construction of roads (Verma 2014) (Fig. 5).

proximate and ultimate analysis are Characterization techniques use for a wide range
of materials to give accurate result.

 proximate analysis which was also called weende analysis of animal feedstuffs was
devised in the mid-nineteenth century at the Weende Experiment Station in Germany
(Henneberg and Stohmann, 1860, 1864). It was developed to provide a top level, very
broad, classification of food components. A method for the quantitative analysis of the
different macronutrients in feed. The system consists of the analytical determinations
of moisture(water), ash, crude fat (ether extract), crude protein and crude fibre.
Nitrogen-free extract (NFE), more or less representing sugars and starches, is
calculated by difference rather than measured by analysis. Proximate analysis has
been widely used for over 160 years. Lea (1841) used proximate analysis to quantify
rank changes along the SW-NE length of the Southern Anthracite Field
(Pennsylvania). 

Proximate analysis is the partitioning of compounds in a feed into four categories

based on the chemical properties of the compounds. The four categories are Moisture
content,ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon

This analysis was an attempt to duplicate animal digestion. After extracting the fat,
the sample is subjected to an acid digestion, simulating the acid present in the
stomach, followed by an alkaline digestion, simulating the alkaline environment in the
small intestine. The crude fiber remaining after digestion is the portion of the sample
assumed not digestible by monogastric animals. In the proximate analysis of
feedstuffs, Kjeldahl nitrogen, ether extract, crude fiber and ash are determined
chemically. The determination of nitrogen allows the calculation of the protein
content of the sample. 

There are several reasons why this analysis is still relevant after such a long time. For
example, the analysis is relatively simple, inexpensive and can be carried out
routinely. In the past, much animal feed research has also been done with proximate
analysis. Using the same method as previous studies makes it easier to compare
results.

It has also been decided by the EU that animal feed need to include the information
about  the minimum content of protein and fats. And must state the maximum content
of crude fiber and ass on the label. These results can all be obtained with the Weende
analysis.

Proximate Analysis

Proximate analysis gives the gross composition of the biomass and hence it is

relatively easy to measure. One can do this without any elaborate set up or
expensive analytical equipment. It is divided into four categories. The four
categories are Moisture content,ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon
Moisture Content

Moisture is determined by the loss in weight that occurs when a sample is dried to a
constant weight in an oven.