Graduation Date
Fall 2020
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Environmental Systems, option Energy, Technology, and Policy
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Sintana Vergara
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Kevin Fingerman
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Charles Chamberlin
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Subject Categories
Environmental Systems
Abstract
Biomass energy plays a small but significant role in the current renewable energy portfolio and is a promising alternative pathway for woody residues that would otherwise be considered waste. These woody residues are often stored in large piles prior to combustion, and greenhouse gas emissions from this storage phase of the bioenergy supply chain are uncertain and understudied. This incubation study investigates the effects of three environmental factors on emissions from decomposition of woody biomass stored in chip piles. Incubation experiments were conducted, subjecting chambers of Sequoia sempervirens woodchips to different levels of temperature, oxygen concentration, and moisture content, and measuring the resulting greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) over thirty days. Notably, CH4 was detected in concentrations above ambient levels, indicating that environmental conditions used in this study were conducive to anaerobic decomposition. Using a three-way repeated measures ANOVA, we found that temperature and moisture had significant effects on CO2 emissions (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Oxygen and moisture had significant effects on CH4 emissions (p < 0.05). No significant effects of these variables were detected for N2O emissions. High temperature and high oxygen treatments were found to be positively correlated with increased total CO2 and CH4 emissions. Understanding the key drivers of emissions from woody biomass can allow for better estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from the storage phase of the bioenergy supply chain.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Geronimo, Carisse, "Characterization of greenhouse gas emissions from storage of woody biomass: an incubation study" (2020). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 449.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/449