Title : Transforming invasion into innovation: Gasification of Lantana camara for sustainable energy generation
Abstract:
Lantana camara, among the world’s most aggressive invasive species, currently infests over 44% of India’s forested landscapes, displacing native flora, altering ecosystem dynamics, and impeding biodiversity conservation. Conventional eradication strategies are ecologically disruptive and economically prohibitive, costing up to USD 18,000 per square kilometre with limited long-term efficacy. In this context, a paradigm shift is imperative, transforming the ecological burden of Lantana camara into a renewable energy resource through thermochemical conversion.
This study evaluates the feasibility of utilising Lantana camara biomass as a feedstock for decentralised bioenergy production via downdraft gasification. Comprehensive fuel characterisation indicated favourable properties, with a higher heating value (HHV) of 18.21 MJ/kg and low concentrations of nitrogen (0.78%), sulphur (0.045%), and ash (<2%), making it well-suited for thermal conversion with minimal environmental emissions. Gasification trials were conducted using an integrated downdraft gasifier-engine setup under varying electrical loads of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 kWh.
The experimental system demonstrated promising performance metrics, achieving a peak cold gas efficiency of 83.04%, a hot gas efficiency of 85.75%, and an overall system electrical efficiency of 11.4%. The produced syngas' lower heating value (LHV) ranged between 5.48–6.08 MJ/Nm³, with optimal calorific performance observed at the lowest load. Approximately 10% biochar was recovered as a by-product, with potential applications in soil carbon sequestration, nutrient retention, and as a value-added input for sustainable agriculture.
Despite these strengths, challenges remain: the concentration of tar (129.6–582.44 mg/Nm³) and particulate matter (112.43–313.33 mg/Nm³) in the producer gas exceeded ideal thresholds, underscoring the need for improved gas cleaning and filtration systems for real-world deployment.
The findings affirm the dual potential of Lantana camara gasification as both a clean energy pathway and an ecologically sound weed management strategy. This approach valorises an underutilised biomass and aligns with India's goals for renewable energy expansion, circular economy practices, and forest ecosystem restoration. Future work will focus on optimizing gasifier design, integrating emission control technologies, and assessing the techno-economic and environmental trade-offs through life cycle and cost-benefit analyses.
Keywords: Lantana camara, invasive species, biomass gasification, biochar, renewable energy
