According to information from the press service of the SB RAS Institute of Cytology and Genetics, scientists are introducing a new exotic miscanthus crop into Russian agriculture. RIA Novosti writes that currently a network of enterprises has been established in the country engaged in the production of this perennial herbaceous plant and its processing into cellulose.
A pilot plant is already operating in the Moscow region, and facilities have also been identified in the Novosibirsk and Kaliningrad regions.
According to the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, one hectare of miscanthus plantations can produce up to four tons of cellulose, which can be used in various industries. Obtaining the same amount of cellulose from Miscanthus is a simpler and more cost-effective process compared to wood.
Miscanthus is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants growing wild in Australia, Asia and Africa. It grows in the south of Primorsky Krai in Russia and is called Chinese miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis), the species is also common in China, Korea and Japan.
In 2012, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences developed, patented and registered Russia’s first cultivated miscanthus variety, “Soranovsky”. This variety has successfully adapted to the Russian climate and annually produces a harvest of dry plant mass containing substances valuable for industry.
Currently, the Institute’s industrial partner has started producing biodegradable tableware using cellulose from the miscanthus plant. Research is also being carried out on the production of biodegradable packaging materials, cellulose fiber for the textile industry, and the conversion of cellulose fiber, which is widely used in modern composite materials, into carbon.
The Institute of Cytology and Genetics continues to develop technologies for growing miscanthus. It is planned to create a wide range of varieties adapted to various climatic conditions and processing purposes. This will make it possible to introduce a new miscanthus crop, the Soranovsky variety, into Russian agriculture and develop a network of pulp production enterprises. Factories specializing in the processing of various types of pulp from Miscanthus plan to produce 10 thousand tons of products per year.
Previously in Russia to create use of low quality products.