Miscanthus has many remarkable properties that allow it to be used in many different ways when it is broken down into its basic components, through a process called thermal decomposition of organic material (pyrolysis).

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Bedding

Miscanthus makes a better bedding material than traditional straw and wood chips. It is more absorbent and a better odour absorbent product. It's unique properties reduces the products breakdown due to low nitrogen content. 

 

Fuel

In Europe, they have been using pelletized Miscanthus as a fuel to heat (gasification) their homes and businesses for hundreds of years. This is one of the easiest and least valued use that can be achieved by this grass. Just further up the scale, Miscanthus can be used in the biofuel industry to produce biodiesel in a process known as cellulosic-ethanol.

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Soil Augmentation

A better use would be to use Miscanthus to create charcoal, using the same process that is used to create barbeque charcoal (torrification), which again can be burned. Using it as charcoal and mixing with soil nutrients creates a friendly home for plants to grow in. Charcoal used in this form becomes a type of biochar that holds the nutrients during the growing season and makes it available as required by the plants and microbes in the soil.

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BioCarbon

Pyrolysis is used to produce many products from Miscanthus. In this process biochar, is produced as well as biooil and syngas. All three products can be used as fuel, but biochar and biooil have more value, if refined into new carbon rich products. Biochar can produce carbon black, activated charcoal and more exotic products in the near future. Biooil can be condensed into many sub-categories including Pyroligneous Acid (wood vinegar).