Assessment of Falcata as Biomass Feedstock: A Thermochemical and MCDA-based Evaluation

College of Engineering, University of Southeastern Philippines, 8000 Davao City, Philippines

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Abstract

This study presents an assessment of Paraserianthes falcataria (Falcata) as a biomass feedstock for decentralized energy systems in Mindanao, Philippines. A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework was employed to evaluate five candidate species using availability (40%), cost (30%), and energy content (30%) as decision criteria. Falcata emerged as the top-ranked feedstock, driven by its dominant regional availability (449,515.02 m³), moderate cost range (PHP 2,600–4,300/m³), and competitive heating value (17.92 MJ/kg). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a peak decomposition temperature of 348 °C and a total mass loss of 84.43%, indicating high thermal reactivity. Proximate and ultimate analyses confirmed favorable characteristics, including low ash content, high volatile matter, and desirable elemental composition. These results establish Falcata as a technically viable and regionally abundant feedstock for small- to medium-scale thermal energy applications, supporting waste valorization and rural energy self-sufficiency in Mindanao.