# Characterization of Congolese Woody Biomass and Its Potential as a Bioenergy Source
## 5 Conclusions  
We have estimated and characterized six woody biomass (WB) species. WB1, WB3, WB6, and WB5 were identified as the dominant species with high aboveground biomass (AGB) and significant carbon stock.  
X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed high levels of macro-elements and low levels of heavy metals in the wood biomass. The characterization results indicate that the low nitrogen and sulfur content makes these wood biomasses suitable for biofuel or bioenergy production through thermochemical processes such as gasification, pyrolysis, and combustion. These species show good potential for biofuel or bioenergy production and can be integrated with other crops in agroforestry systems.  
To minimize environmental impacts like deforestation, it is recommended to use only branches and stumps for bioenergy production. To maintain environmental sustainability and enhance the efficiency of biofuel and bioenergy production, it would be beneficial to plant trees on a large scale and utilize various raw materials, including forest residues, agricultural residues, and industrial residues.  
Minimal statistical analysis of the wood biomass revealed low variability in parameters such as volatile matter, carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and calculated HHV, indicating a relatively homogeneous composition. However, moisture and nitrogen exhibited significant standard deviations, reflecting variability in storage conditions or sample characteristics. With an average HHV ranging from 14.58 to 17.76 MJ/kg, this biomass is highly suitable for thermochemical processes, including combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis.  
Conceptualization, M.D.N.N., T.S.M., D.H.D., A.B.R., J.M.H., G.N., B.M.-M. and J.C.L.; methodology, M.D.N.N., T.S.M., D.H.D., G.N., J.M.H., A.B.R., A.E.B. and B.M.-M.; validation, T.S.M., M.D.N.N., D.H.D., J.M.H., A.B.R., A.E.B., B.M.-M. and J.C.L.; formal analysis, T.S.M., J.M.H., A.B.R. and A.E.B.; investigation, T.S.M., J.M.H., A.B.R. and A.E.B.; resources, M.D.N.N., A.B.R., B.M.-M. and J.C.L.; data curation, T.S.M., T.S.M., J.M.H., A.B.R. and A.E.B.; writing--original draft preparation, T.S.M., M.D.N.N., J.M.H., A.B.R. and A.E.B.; writing--review and editing, T.S.M., M.D.N.N., D.H.D., J.M.H., A.B.R., A.E.B., J.M.H., G.N., B.M.-M. and J.C.L.; visualization, T.S.M., J.M.H., A.B.R., and A.E.B.; supervision, M.D.N.N., A.B.R., B.M.-M. and J.C.L.; project administration, M.D.N.N., D.H.D., A.B.R., B.M.-M. and J.C.L.; funding acquisition, M.D.N.N., A.B.R., B.M.-M. and J.C.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
Funding: The Royal Society-DFID Africa Capacity Building Initiative grant provided financial support for this work in the \"Africa Clean Energy Research Alliance\" ACERA project \"Solar Treatment of biomass for power generation\". This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from UNESCO and the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of UNESCO, IDRC or its Board of Governors. Financial support at Leeds was provided by the grants CRESUM HYRES: Creating resilient sustainable microgrids through hybrid renewable energy systems (EPSRC. EP/R030243/1) and BEFWAM: Bioenergy, fertiliser and clean water from invasive aquatic macrophytes (BBSRC BB/S011439/1). Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable. Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable. Data Availability Statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.