IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i13p3541-d1694787.html

The Energy Potential of White Mulberry Waste Biomass

Author

Listed:
  • Dominika Sieracka

    (Department of Bioeconomy, Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Wojska Polskiego 71B, 60-630 Poznan, Poland)

  • Jakub Frankowski

    (Department of Bioeconomy, Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Wojska Polskiego 71B, 60-630 Poznan, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Łacka

    (Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznan, Poland)

  • Stanisław Wacławek

    (Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CXI), Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 460 01 Liberec, Czech Republic)

  • Wojciech Czekała

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznan, Poland)

Abstract

White mulberry ( Morus alba L.) is a tree growing up to 15 m in height. It is a plant whose cultivation is historically associated with silk production. Mulberry leaves are the only food source of the mulberry silkworm caterpillars ( Bombyx mori L.). The cultivation of this tree has recently gained renewed importance. Due to the content of numerous bioactive substances, mulberry is a valuable raw material for the food, pharmaceutical and herbal industries. This article presents the results of tests on pellets from 1-, 3- and 5-year-old branches, which are waste biomass remaining after pruning mulberry shrubs cultivated to obtain leaves to feed silkworms. Additionally, analyses of pellets from mulberry leaves were also carried out. For the specified mulberry biomass yield, analyses of chemical composition of mulberry biomass (branches and leaves) were carried out, and energy properties (heat of combustion and calorific value) and energy potential were calculated. The heat of combustion of pellet from mulberry branches was, on average, 19,266 MJ∙Mg −1 , and the calorific value was 17,726 MJ∙Mg −1 . The energy potential, on the other hand, was, on average, 159 GJ∙ha −1 and 44 MWh∙ha −1 . The obtained results indicate the possibility of the effective use of mulberry branches after the annual pruning of bushes in plantations for energy purposes.

Suggested Citation

  • Dominika Sieracka & Jakub Frankowski & Agnieszka Łacka & Stanisław Wacławek & Wojciech Czekała, 2025. "The Energy Potential of White Mulberry Waste Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:13:p:3541-:d:1694787
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3541/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3541/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joanna Szyszlak-Bargłowicz & Tomasz Słowik & Grzegorz Zając & Agata Blicharz-Kania & Beata Zdybel & Dariusz Andrejko & Sławomir Obidziński, 2021. "Energy Parameters of Miscanthus Biomass Pellets Supplemented with Copra Meal in Terms of Energy Consumption during the Pressure Agglomeration Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Alessio Ilari & Ester Foppa Pedretti & Carmine De Francesco & Daniele Duca, 2021. "Pellet Production from Residual Biomass of Greenery Maintenance in a Small-Scale Company to Improve Sustainability," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Algirdas Jasinskas & Dionizas Streikus & Egidijus Šarauskis & Mečys Palšauskas & Kęstutis Venslauskas, 2020. "Energy Evaluation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Reed Plant Pelletizing and Utilization as Solid Biofuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Joanna Szyszlak-Bargłowicz & Jacek Wasilewski & Grzegorz Zając & Andrzej Kuranc & Adam Koniuszy & Małgorzata Hawrot-Paw, 2022. "Evaluation of Particulate Matter (PM) Emissions from Combustion of Selected Types of Rapeseed Biofuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Jezerska, Lucie & Sassmanova, Veronika & Prokes, Rostislav & Gelnar, Daniel, 2023. "The pelletization and torrefaction of coffee grounds, garden chaff and rapeseed straw," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 346-354.
    6. Daniele Duca & Giuseppe Toscano, 2022. "Biomass Energy Resources: Feedstock Quality and Bioenergy Sustainability," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-6, June.
    7. Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski & Michał Krzyżaniak & Ewelina Olba-Zięty, 2025. "Properties of Pellets from Forest and Agricultural Biomass and Their Mixtures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-25, June.
    8. Dokyeong Kim & Kyung-Hee Kang, 2022. "Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Bacterial Potential of Mulberry Leaf Extract on Oral Microorganisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, April.
    9. Lu, Li & Tang, Ya & Xie, Jia-sui & Yuan, Yuan-liang, 2009. "The role of marginal agricultural land-based mulberry planting in biomass energy production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1789-1794.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marek Helis & Maria Strzelczyk & Wojciech Golimowski & Aleksandra Steinhoff-Wrześniewska & Anna Paszkiewicz-Jasińska & Małgorzata Hawrot-Paw & Adam Koniuszy & Marek Hryniewicz, 2021. "Biomass Potential of the Marginal Land of the Polish Sudetes Mountain Range," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Kamel, Salah & El-Sattar, Hoda Abd & Vera, David & Jurado, Francisco, 2018. "Bioenergy potential from agriculture residues for energy generation in Egypt," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 28-37.
    3. Kostyniuk, Andrii & Likozar, Blaž, 2024. "Wet torrefaction of biomass waste into high quality hydrochar and value-added liquid products using different zeolite catalysts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    4. Qiu, Huanguang & Sun, Laixiang & Huang, Jikun & Rozelle, Scott, 2012. "Liquid biofuels in China: Current status, government policies, and future opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3095-3104.
    5. Joselin Herbert, G.M. & Unni Krishnan, A., 2016. "Quantifying environmental performance of biomass energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 292-308.
    6. Giulio Sperandio & Alessandro Suardi & Andrea Acampora & Vincenzo Civitarese, 2024. "Eco-Efficiency of Pellet Production from Dedicated Poplar Plantations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-23, June.
    7. Kostyniuk, Andrii & Likozar, Blaž, 2024. "Wet torrefaction of biomass waste into value-added liquid product (5-HMF) and high quality solid fuel (hydrochar) in a nitrogen atmosphere," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    8. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Teng, Chen-Hsiang & Chein, Rei-Yu & Nguyen, Thanh-Binh & Dong, Cheng-Di & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2025. "Co-production of hydrogen and biochar from methanol autothermal reforming combining excess heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    9. Alessio Ilari & Sara Fabrizi & Ester Foppa Pedretti, 2022. "European Hophornbeam Biomass for Energy Application: Influence of Different Production Processes and Heating Devices on Environmental Sustainability," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, January.
    10. Sykorova, Veronika & Jezerska, Lucie & Sassmanova, Veronika & Honus, Stanislav & Peikertova, Pavlina & Kielar, Jan & Zidek, Martin, 2024. "Biomass pellets with organic binders - before and after torrefaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    11. Vincenzo Civitarese & Angelo Del Giudice & Andrea Acampora & Elisa Fischetti & Thomas Gasperini & Carmine De Francesco & Giuseppe Toscano & Antonio Scarfone, 2024. "Combustion of Pelletized Coffee Residues for Bioenergy Valorization Within a Circular Economy Vision," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-13, November.
    12. Savelii Kukharets & Algirdas Jasinskas & Gennadii Golub & Olena Sukmaniuk & Taras Hutsol & Krzysztof Mudryk & Jonas Čėsna & Szymon Glowacki & Iryna Horetska, 2023. "The Experimental Study of the Efficiency of the Gasification Process of the Fast-Growing Willow Biomass in a Downdraft Gasifier," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-12, January.
    13. Jezerska, Lucie & Sassmanova, Veronika & Prokes, Rostislav & Gelnar, Daniel & Peikertova, Pavlina, 2025. "Spent tea leaves and tea bags - Promising biofuels?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    14. Tareq Salameh & Hegazy Rezk & Usama Issa & Siti Kartom Kamarudin & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem & Abdul Ghani Olabi & Malek Alkasrawi, 2023. "Boosting Biodiesel Production from Dairy-Washed Scum Oil Using Beetle Antennae Search Algorithm and Fuzzy Modelling," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, November.
    15. Daniele Duca & Giuseppe Toscano, 2022. "Biomass Energy Resources: Feedstock Quality and Bioenergy Sustainability," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-6, June.
    16. Zhuang, Dafang & Jiang, Dong & Liu, Lei & Huang, Yaohuan, 2011. "Assessment of bioenergy potential on marginal land in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 1050-1056, February.
    17. Piotr Sołowiej & Maciej Neugebauer & Ogulcan Esmer, 2024. "Coffee Grounds as an Additive to Wood Pellets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    18. Pierdicca, Roberto & Balestra, Mattia & Micheletti, Giulia & Felicetti, Andrea & Toscano, Giuseppe, 2022. "Semi-automatic detection and segmentation of wooden pellet size exploiting a deep learning approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 406-416.
    19. Giuseppe Toscano & Carmine De Francesco & Thomas Gasperini & Sara Fabrizi & Daniele Duca & Alessio Ilari, 2023. "Quality Assessment and Classification of Feedstock for Bioenergy Applications Considering ISO 17225 Standard on Solid Biofuels," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, May.
    20. Chen, Lihong & Li, Xiaobing & Wen, Wanyu & Jia, Jingdun & Li, Guoqing & Deng, Fei, 2012. "The status, predicament and countermeasures of biomass secondary energy production in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6212-6219.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:13:p:3541-:d:1694787. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.