Despite the expanding growth area and volumes, the use of industrial scale has not progressed e.g. due to underdeveloped harvesting techniques.
“Lignocellulose-based reeds need to be considered on a global scale as part of the green transition,” says Timo SuutarlaBusiness Development Manager at Green Industry Park.
Suutarla acted as a mentor in a student working group that investigated the functionality of current reed harvesting methods in industrial-scale harvesting. The course was part of the master’s course at LUT University Current problems of technologies enabling the circular economy. The study collected information on the applicability of different methods and interviewed industry players.
World population growth and rising living standards are leading to a shortage of virgin raw materials. New circular economy technologies enable the use of raw materials for new, currently underused material flows, such as ordinary reed. For example, textiles, plastics, adhesives, cosmetics and fuels could be made from ordinary reed using current biorefining techniques.
“How can we extract this nutrient-absorbing annual straw from our water and deliver it to the plant at a competitive price? It is a key issue in developing this new industry, where Finland has the potential to be a world leader, “says Suutarla.
How to sell ordinary cane
According to the LUT study, there are only a few mechanical harvesting techniques for common cane. All the technologies studied are at an early stage of development. On the other hand, common reed has different uses. Traditionally, it has served as a material for thatched roofs as such, unprocessed, which has not required advanced harvesting mechanisms. Therefore, timber harvesting technologies have typically been small-scale and based on adaptations to existing equipment. This inevitably leads to high harvesting costs.
“Growth, weather and soil conditions make harvesting versatile and challenging,” says the team. Jyri Kuitunen.
“Another important aspect is the currently missing logistics and storage of harvested reeds,” says another member of the group. Aysu Cansuwho interviewed representatives of a local logging company in Kouvola.
“Right now, they can’t transport and sell their harvested reeds, which is a huge problem. The feasibility of the process could be greatly improved by solving this problem, ”he continues.
Cost-effective wood harvesting techniques can make reed a raw material for bioethanol
Ordinary reed would be an interesting addition to the range of raw materials for bioethanol production. Efficient reed harvesting would also help regulate the nutrient content of water bodies and promote green rhythm.
Another student research group mentor, Janne Harjunpää Myllykoski Bioethanol Ltd emphasizes that harvesting common reed from water areas would help eliminate nutrient run-off and the use of reed as a raw material for second-generation biofuels would reduce the need to import fossil fuels and thus also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. effluent. However, high harvesting costs are the biggest barrier to the industrial exploitation of common reed.
Extensive use of common reed for various purposes also created significant regional and international business opportunities.
“Research highlights the potential of our region to turn the challenges of this era into opportunities. Innovative use of ordinary reed can give us a clear advantage in creating a new business. We definitely need to seize the opportunity, ”says the group’s third mentor. Mika Penttilä From Kouvola Innovation Oy.
The research sheds light on existing timber harvesting techniques and creates a solid foundation for further development. It is used, among other things, in the development of logging methods and in the planning of further research and project funding.
The student work group at LUT University included Nazila Bolourieh, Aysu Cansu, Anne Fraser-Vatto, Jyri Kuitunen and Daniel Teittinen. The group was led by industry professor Jutta Nuortila-Jokinen from LUT University.
Source: LUT University