Valorisation of urban green areas for producing renewable energy and biochar as growing substrate of Sicilian aromatic and nutraceutical species in a circular economy

This work is aimed at evaluating the possible building up of a gasifier for the energyvalorisation of residual biomass deriving from urban areas and their surroundings.The area and the volumes of supply and economic convenience have been determinedby implementing a GIS-based geographic method to the localisation andquantification of non-uniform elements of plant biomass. The pyrolysis and gasificationprocesses of the lignocellulosic biomass obtained from pruning and maintenanceoperations of the urban and ornamental green include the production of a residualamount of biochar. The biochar can be used in agriculture as a soil improverand a substrate alternative to peat in the sustainable production of Sicilian aromaticand nutraceutical species grown in pots within a circular economy.