Biomass Pellet Technology: A Green Approach for Sustainable Development

Abstract

The supply of sustainable or green energy is the main challenge that mankind will face over the coming decades, especially because of the need to address climatic changes. Biomass being abundantly available in nature can make a substantial contribution to cater future energy demands in a sustainable way. Currently, it is the largest universal contributor of green energy and has significant potential to expand in the production of electricity, heat and fuels. However, handling as well as direct combustion of biomass is restrained due to peculiar properties of this kind of fuel. As raw biomass possesses low density (30-50 kg/m 3 ) and high moisture content that limits its usage for energy purposes and it needs to be densified prior to its use. The compact and densified biomass possess a high magnitude of density as well as low moisture content which in turn helps to dwindle technical limitations associated with storage, handling and transportation. One immediate solution is the pelletisation of raw biomass that enhances its energy efficiency and enables the competition of biomass with other types of fuels. Besides, biomass pellet technology has gained a rapid momentum in many European countries. The future of the biomass pellet industry is greatly influenced by various environmental, economic, political as well as social aspects that create a multiplex relation among suppliers, producers and consumers. Therefore, the main aim of this chapter is to develop a comprehensive review of biomass processing that involves pellet production technology, energy efficiency of biomass pellet, current status, opportunities and challenges for the development of biomass pellet market.

A Relative Relationship between Low-Stack Emissions and the Quality of Fuels Used in Heating Boilers and Grills

“…They can also be used as a material to produce pellets, which only proves the need to perform a basic petrographic analysis of raw materials used for this type of production. The pellets, examined microscopically, were found to be the least contaminated; this shows the care taken during the selection of components and the production process [14]. Eco-pea coal in the examined polished sections is characterized by a low liptinite content (at least three stages of maturity), which indicates that it was formed based on several coals of different types [15].…”

Characterization of Pure and Blended Pellets Made from Norway Spruce and Pea Starch: A Comparative Study of Bonding Mechanism Relevant to Quality

“…The structure of the cellulose component of wood is linked by β-(1,4)-glycosidic bonds with a high degree of polymerization, while that of hemicellulose is partially substituted by acetyl groups with a lower degree of polymerization in comparison to cellulose. The substituted acetyl groups in the hemicellulose structure means that the hydroxyl groups (-OH) at carbon positions C 2 and C 3 are partly substituted by O-acetyl groups, one of the adhesive degradation products of hemicellulose responsible for natural bonding [13,14]. Lignin is complex in nature and contains aromatic rings that are responsible for its glue effects; the thermosetting properties of lignin are exhibited at temperatures above or equal to 100 • C, and the adhesive nature of thermally melted lignin significantly contributes to the strength and durability of pellets made from lignocellulosic biomass [15][16][17].…”

Off-Gassing and Oxygen Depletion in Headspaces of Solid Biofuels Produced from Forest Residue Biomass

“…This value is about 40% in the European Union (EU). Solid biomass is classified into firewood from forests, agricultural residues (e.g., cereal and rape straw, grass), lignocellulosic biomass of energy crops and production waste from wood processing and the food industry [1,3]. However, forest biomass is still the major feedstock in the production of solid biofuels.…”