Use of Saline And Wastewater for Growing Arundo donax

Second generation biofuel crops (non food, cellulosic feedstock) or pulp/paper crops are needed that grow well on saline lands with wastewaters. Here is a paper that reports on the underutilised resources of saline water and land to grow the second generation biofuel crop Arundo donax (Adx). This crop together with other cellulose feedstocks could form the basis of a new biofuel or pulp/paper industry .Trial results are presented for Adx growing on saline soil and irrigated with saline winery wastewater for biomass production, nutrient removal, salt tolerance, weed risk and carbon sequestration.

Initial economic analysis of Adx enterprises indicated they were viable options for cost saving measures of wastewater remediation.

This work has shown the potential for Adx to treat saline wastewaters, Phosporous and Nitrogen rich wastewaters (e.g. sewage or winery wastewaters) and to produce high biomass yields. This biomass can be used for feedstock for combined heat and power factories (to run pumps and other equipment) or to produce ethanol.

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