Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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Hairyloon
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Knotweed as BiomassWe all know about the growth rate of knotweed, so why can't it be used as fuel?
I am not suggesting that anybody starts growing it, but there is plenty of it that people are failing to stop from growing...
I've done a brief google and the first result is an April fool, and subsequent ones seem to refer to that...
I'd guess that the best way would be anaerobic digestion: that would be fairly sure to kill it.
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NorthernMonkeyGirl
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Gut reaction is that it would be too dangerous to harvest and transport it, given how easily a tiny snippet can cause chaos.
The shoots are said to be tasty though, if there's a local patch 
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Hairyloon
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Gut reaction is that it would be too dangerous to harvest and transport it, given how easily a tiny snippet can cause chaos. |
I'd thought of that: just set up a small digestor on site.
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john of wessex
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See
https://www.gov.uk/japanese-knotweed-giant-hogweed-and-other-invasive-plants
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dpack
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i recon the rules might prevent what seems sensible
when it is growing tis very wet so mincing it and digesting seems possible but tis also very rot proof so it might kill the digester bugs
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LynneA
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Network Rail seems content to chop it down and leave it where it falls. Have yet to see a trackside fire as a consequence.
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Hairyloon
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i recon the rules might prevent what seems sensible
when it is growing tis very wet so mincing it and digesting seems possible but tis also very rot proof so it might kill the digester bugs |
Something must digest it else all that has grown so far would still be with us.
I reckon it is worth the experiment... I'll put it on the list.
dpack
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the stalks will burn when dried (late autumn) and seem also to rot from that state
the roots seem indestructible
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Hairyloon
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the roots seem indestructible |
What have you tried?
dpack
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poison,burning in situ ,drowning
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Hairyloon
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poison,burning in situ ,drowning |
Drowning?
dpack
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a while in a barrel of water didnt kill it
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Hairyloon
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a while in a barrel of water didnt kill it |
Killing it off is a separate issue: it isn't going to come out of the digester alive.
OtleyLad
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My son works for a small company that specializes in eradicating knotweed. It's a very expensive business and they use potent chemicals in conjunction with mechanical removal to get rid of it (digging out and sifting soil down to a couple of metres). They also do work for Network Rail (but I'm sure they don't leave it lying around).
Some people might get a little alarmed living next to a knotweed 'plantation' -mortgage providers in particular.
But you're right about its potential in terms of growth.
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Hairyloon
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Some people might get a little alarmed living next to a knotweed 'plantation'... |
There is no suggestion that it should be planted, or even that existing infestations should not be poisoned, only that where there is one, here is a potentially useful means of disposing of it.
dpack
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a place to start with digesting it if it either kills normal digester bugs or refuses to ferment might be mince it and try various bacteria ,fungi,yeasts to give a "soup" ready for the methane producing bacteria
iirc part of it's toxicity is oxalic acid so either making that insoluble chemically or denaturing it by some means or reducing it by leeching might help.leeching would have issues of a lot of oxalic acid solution
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dpack
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some ingredients
this might give you some ideas as to how to overcome the problems of digesting the stuff
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Mistress Rose
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That's very interesting Dpack. Looks like it might be useful.
The acid could be neutralised by using an alkali such as bicarbonate or carbonate of soda (washing soda), or small amounts of sodium or potassium hydroxide. That should produce an oxalate which perhaps won't be as harmful to the bugs.
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Hairyloon
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The acid could be neutralised by using an alkali such as bicarbonate or carbonate of soda (washing soda), or small amounts of sodium or potassium hydroxide. |
Throw in some biodiesel waste: it is mostly a mix of glycerol and hydroxide. The glycerol is known to be beneficial to the digestion already and there is no shortage of it.
oldish chris
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Its a definite non-starter. For industrial scale production there are other plants, e.g. willow, that can be propagated, for ad-hoc small scale, any old plant will do, and can be composted using the existing municipal schemes.
Japanese knot-weed isn't particularly productive, it uses the same old photosynthesis as all the other plants. Just, unlike all the other plants, it doesn't get chomped by the myriads of insects that eat everything else (starting with my cabbages  ). (A sycamore next to your house would do as much damage.)
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Hairyloon
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Its a definite non-starter. For industrial scale production there are other plants, e.g. willow, that can be propagated, for ad-hoc small scale, any old plant will do, and can be composted using the existing municipal schemes. |
Yes, but the point is, if you already have a patch of knotweed, then why not put it to good use?
What do those who's business it is to get rid of it do with it currently?
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