164
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
vegetation is often less than half of that for alternative technologies (Fiorenza
et al., 1999; McCutcheon & Schnoor, 2004; Pivetz, 2001).
Phytoremediation has received much attention because the ecosystem at
the contaminated site has generally been improved at sites where it has been
implemented. The costs associated with growing vegetation are modest and
supporting equipment is available because agriculture is global in its reach.
Many people know how to grow plants and harvest produce.
The major costs associated with phytoremediation at field sites have often been
associated with establishment of vegetation because amendments are needed to
enable plants to grow at the site. The cost of amendments, moving them to the
site, and incorporating them into the soil depend on the amount needed, distance transported, and process of incorporation into the soil at the site.
Analytical laboratory expenses can be one of the significant costs associated with phytoremediation. If the site is used for production of Miscanthus
or to grow trees, the need for chemical analysis is reduced compared to
growing food crops on the site. The analytical expense to characterize the
contamination at the site is independent of the remediation method and
often completed before a remediation method is selected.
9.6 Economics of Biomass Production
One of the goals of this book and the authors is to reduce the cost of remediation by producing products on contaminated sites that can be harvested and
marketed. Miscanthus has significant biomass production and many potential uses. There has been great progress in developing Miscanthus as a crop
to produce on contaminated sites. The economics of growing Miscanthus
have been described in several publications (Hastings, 2017; Khanna et al.,
2008; Witzel & Finger, 2016). The cost of establishment of Miscanthus using
rhizomes is expensive, and there is great interest in developing less expensive methods such as planting seeds (Ben Fradj et al., 2020; Hastings, 2017).
Witzel and Finger (2016) have reviewed 51 economic studies of Miscanthus
in Europe and North America. They point out that location and regional
demand for the Miscanthus impact the economics. Biomass yields vary with
soil quality and weather, and these factors affect the economics.
Miscanthus as harvested has a relatively low density, and this impacts
transportation costs and the cost of delivery to markets. If it is used for bedding or as a solid fuel near to where it is produced, transportation costs are
small. It can be pelleted to increase the density and make it easier to handle
and transport.
Miscanthus has high-quality cellulose which has value in making some
products; however, there are many sources of cellulose including trees,
wheat straw, and switchgrass. Thus, the price for Miscanthus is related to the
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
vegetation is often less than half of that for alternative technologies (Fiorenza
et al., 1999; McCutcheon & Schnoor, 2004; Pivetz, 2001).
Phytoremediation has received much attention because the ecosystem at
the contaminated site has generally been improved at sites where it has been
implemented. The costs associated with growing vegetation are modest and
supporting equipment is available because agriculture is global in its reach.
Many people know how to grow plants and harvest produce.
The major costs associated with phytoremediation at field sites have often been
associated with establishment of vegetation because amendments are needed to
enable plants to grow at the site. The cost of amendments, moving them to the
site, and incorporating them into the soil depend on the amount needed, distance transported, and process of incorporation into the soil at the site.
Analytical laboratory expenses can be one of the significant costs associated with phytoremediation. If the site is used for production of Miscanthus
or to grow trees, the need for chemical analysis is reduced compared to
growing food crops on the site. The analytical expense to characterize the
contamination at the site is independent of the remediation method and
often completed before a remediation method is selected.
9.6 Economics of Biomass Production
One of the goals of this book and the authors is to reduce the cost of remediation by producing products on contaminated sites that can be harvested and
marketed. Miscanthus has significant biomass production and many potential uses. There has been great progress in developing Miscanthus as a crop
to produce on contaminated sites. The economics of growing Miscanthus
have been described in several publications (Hastings, 2017; Khanna et al.,
2008; Witzel & Finger, 2016). The cost of establishment of Miscanthus using
rhizomes is expensive, and there is great interest in developing less expensive methods such as planting seeds (Ben Fradj et al., 2020; Hastings, 2017).
Witzel and Finger (2016) have reviewed 51 economic studies of Miscanthus
in Europe and North America. They point out that location and regional
demand for the Miscanthus impact the economics. Biomass yields vary with
soil quality and weather, and these factors affect the economics.
Miscanthus as harvested has a relatively low density, and this impacts
transportation costs and the cost of delivery to markets. If it is used for bedding or as a solid fuel near to where it is produced, transportation costs are
small. It can be pelleted to increase the density and make it easier to handle
and transport.
Miscanthus has high-quality cellulose which has value in making some
products; however, there are many sources of cellulose including trees,
wheat straw, and switchgrass. Thus, the price for Miscanthus is related to the