Influence of Yield Structure and Chemical Composition of Monoecious and Dioecious Hemp Forms on the Efficiency of Advanced Biofuels and Biocomposite Production

This study aimed to influence of industrial hemp variety on the effectiveness of advanced biofuels and biocomposite production. The plant material consisted of biomass from dioecious and monoecious hemp varieties grown in a comparative field experiment, which highlights the novelty of the research approach. Significant variatations were observed between the tested varieties in terms of yield and morphological traits. The study also revealed marked distinctions in the chemical composition of monoecious and dioecious hemp biomass at various processing stages, particularly in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content. Dioecious forms exhibited higher cellulose and lignin levels, while monoecious forms showed higher hemicellulose content, what was supported by FTIR and SEM analyses. Following enzymatic hydrolysis, high glucose concentrations were obtained, especially for the dioecious varieties Eletta Campana (25.1 g·L−1) and Kompolti (22.1 g·L−1). Carrying out the chemical modification process and then the biocomposite production demonstrated that silanization, unlike alkali pretreatment alone, substantially improved interfacial adhesion and mechanical performance of PLA/hemp biocomposites. Among the tested fillers, both monocious Białobrzeskie and dioecious Kompolti varieties showed the strongest reinforcing effects (increase of 33% and 19%, respectively, in tensile strength). To sum up, converting hemp biomass into fuels and creating biocomposites broadens production opportunities and supports better environmental conditions.