Higher heating value determination of wheat straw from Baja California, Mexico

Wheat is one of the most cultivated grains internationally. In 2012, Mexico allocated 578,836 ha to this crop. In the Valley of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, wheat is the main crop with 72,206 ha in 2012. The crop generates about 527,103 t/year of wheat straw. At the end of each harvest season, most of this residue is open burned, without productive use, causing environmental pollution. However, due to its high energy content, wheat straw can be used for electricity generation or biofuels production, among others. In this paper, the results of the physicochemical characterization of wheat straw Triticum aestivum from Baja California are presented. This characterization includes the following tests with their results. The analysis of chemical composition: 57.09% cellulose, 16.81% hemicellulose, and 19.10% lignin. The proximate analysis: 64.42% volatile matter, 19.49% fixed carbon and 16.09% ash. The ultimate analysis: 37.20% C, 5.57% H, 1.14% N, 0.20% S and 37.30% O. The experimental higher heating of wheat straw was 14.86 MJ/kg. Higher heating value estimations by proximate and ultimate analysis were 15.71 MJ/kg and 14.59 MJ/kg, respectively. Based on the experimental results, the lower heating value was 14.5 MJ/kg.