Influence of lignin distribution, physicochemical characteristics and microstructure on the quality of biofuel pellets made from four different types of biomass

Souza, Hector Jesús Pegoretti Leite de; Muñoz, Fernando; Mendonça, Regis Teixeira; Sáez, Katia; Olave, Rodrigo; Segura, Cristina; Souza, Daniel Pegoretti Leite de; Protásio, Thiago de Paula; Rodríguez‐Soalleiro, Roque

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.065

Cited by 31 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…This study analysed the quality of pellets obtained from a 5-year rotation Eucalyptus plant; that is, a similar management system to that investigated in this study but in a different part of the world. The results obtained in the present study are in line with the literature data from Pegoretti Leite de Souza et al concerning mechanical durability and HHV, but a substantially higher bulk density (increased by about 8%) was reported in the Chilean study [44].…”

Section: Comparison With Other Similar Studiessupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Another interesting comparison for Eucalyptus pellets can be made with a recent study carried out in Chile [44]. This study analysed the quality of pellets obtained from a 5-year rotation Eucalyptus plant; that is, a similar management system to that investigated in this study but in a different part of the world.…”

Section: Comparison With Other Similar Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…High value pellets are generally produced at the industrial scale from pure sawdust [3,44]. In comparison, pellets manufactured from different feedstocks, with a high share of bark or leaves, can have lower quality [45,46].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quality of Pellets Obtained from Whole Trees Harvested from Plantations, Coppice Forests and Regular Thinnings

Latterini

Civitarese

Walkowiak

et al. 2022

Forests

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Woody biomass represents a sustainable type of fuel that is marketed directly as firewood or pre-treated by grinding, drying and compressing. Densified biomass fuels provide benefits in transport, storage and handling, and wood pellets in particular are one of the most commercially attractive products. With this in mind, the objective of the presented research was to evaluate the quality of various pellets obtained from different tree parts of five species (and various age): Eucalyptus spp., Fagus sylavtica L., Pinus eldarica Medw., Pinus radiata D.Don, and Robinia pseudoacacia L. In all the analysed cases, the wooden material was harvested according to the whole tree system (WTS), with their branches and leaves. The samples were chipped, refined by a shredder and dried. Pelletisation was finally carried out using a 4 kW Bianco line (Cuneo, Italy) pelletiser. Physical and chemical analyses were undertaken to determine the quality of the pellets as an energy source. Results of this classification showed that the best pellets, mostly due to better mechanical properties, were from plantation trees of Eucalyptus spp. (6- and 3-year-old) and from thinnings of Fagus sylavtica L. (70-year-old), whereas the least attractive types were made from 18-year-old, coppice Eucalyptus spp. and 3-year-old Robinia pseudoacacia L. Regarding the classification developed within this study, all the pellet types were found to be classifiable as none exceeded the toxic content limit. In terms of the influence of the species, management system and stem age on pellet quality, this study showed the presence of a link between cycle duration and pellet quality, with increasing stem age resulting in better pellet characteristics.

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Section: Comparison With Other Similar Studiessupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Comparison With Other Similar Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Quality of Pellets Obtained from Whole Trees Harvested from Plantations, Coppice Forests and Regular Thinnings

Latterini

Civitarese

Walkowiak

et al. 2022

Forests

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“…Mechanical pellet testing processes were employed across all studies. Some studies [13,90,[92][93][94][95]98,100,101,104,106] also examined and reported the pellet die pressure and temperature during the pelletizing process, with these values also documented in Table 3. When considering blended biomass pellets (non-woody and woody biomass blended pellets), the properties of 100% non-woody pellets produced in the aforementioned 19 studies were collected.…”

Section: Pellets Analyzedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis

Rupasinghe,

Perera,

Bandara

et al. 2023

Energies

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There is a widespread global shift toward renewable energy sources, where the emphasis is on enhancing the utilization of renewable energy due to the rising costs associated with fossil fuels. In this light, biomass pellets made from woody and non-woody biomass and blends have gained increased attention. Extensive research has been conducted globally to enhance the quality of biomass pellets and to explore the potential to combine woody biomass with other non-woody forms of biomass in biomass pellet production. The heterogeneity of the raw materials used and resulting properties of the biomass pellets have led to the establishment of internationally recognized benchmarks such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17225 standard to regulate pellet quality. In this article, the key mechanical, physical, chemical, and energy properties of pellets made of different non-woody herbaceous biomass are investigated, and the available test values for such properties of the pellets were meta-analyzed. A comparison of the properties of these pellets with the relevant standards was also performed. A meta-analysis of studies on biomass pellet production was conducted via a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The SLR focuses on determining and analyzing the average values for the key physical properties of biomass pellets using woody biomass as a component in concert with other biomass materials. In addition, the optimal range of mixtures of woody and non-woody biomass was reviewed to produce biomass pellets with potential acceptance in the marketplace. The majority of studies included in the SLR concentrate on pellets made from a mixture of biomass materials. The results show that the average values for wood/non-wood mixtures such as pellet diameter, pellet length, moisture content, ash content, fine particle content, gross calorific value, and bulk density were found to adhere to the ISO standards. However, the average mechanical durability fell short of meeting the requirements of the standards. Additional comparisons were nitrogen, sulfur, volatile matter, and fixed carbon content. The findings in this meta-analysis could be useful in directing future research focused on producing high-quality and efficient biomass pellets derived from biomass blends and mixtures.

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“…To accomplish this, it is crucial to assess the quality of the pellets made from the raw material as it is ( Figure 2 ). On an industrial scale, high-value pellets are often made from pure sawdust [ 47 ], and some further processing steps, such as pre-treatment and the addition of binders, are also applied [ 26 ]. Comparatively, pellets produced from various feedstocks that contain significant amounts of bark or leaves may be of lower quality [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pellet Production from Pruning and Alternative Forest Biomass: A Review of the Most Recent Research Findings

et al. 2023

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Typically, coniferous sawdust from debarked stems is used to make pellets. Given the high lignin content, which ensures strong binding and high calorific values, this feedstock provides the best quality available. However, finding alternative feedstocks for pellet production is crucial if small-scale pellet production is to be developed and used to support the economy and energy independence of rural communities. These communities have to be able to create pellets devoid of additives and without biomass pre-processing so that the feedstock price remains low. The features of pellets made from other sources of forest biomass, such as different types of waste, broadleaf species, and pruning biomass, have attracted some attention in this context. This review sought to provide an overview of the most recent (2019–2023) knowledge on the subject and to bring into consideration potential feedstocks for the growth of small-scale pellet production. Findings from the literature show that poor bulk density and mechanical durability are the most frequent issues when making pellets from different feedstocks. All of the tested alternative biomass typologies have these shortcomings, which are also a result of the use of low-performance pelletizers in small-scale production, preventing the achievement of adequate mechanical qualities. Pellets made from pruning biomass, coniferous residues, and wood from short-rotation coppice plants all have significant flaws in terms of ash content and, in some cases, nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine content as well. All things considered, research suggests that broadleaf wood from beech and oak trees, collected through routine forest management activities, makes the best feasible feedstock for small-scale pellet production. Despite having poor mechanical qualities, these feedstocks can provide pellets with a low ash level. High ash content is a significant disadvantage when considering pellet manufacture and use on a small scale since it can significantly raise maintenance costs, compromising the supply chain’s ability to operate cost-effectively. Pellets with low bulk density and low mechanical durability can be successfully used in a small-scale supply chain with the advantages of reducing travel distance from the production site and storage time.

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Influence of lignin distribution, physicochemical characteristics and microstructure on the quality of biofuel pellets made from four different types of biomass

Cited by 31 publications

References 55 publications

Quality of Pellets Obtained from Whole Trees Harvested from Plantations, Coppice Forests and Regular Thinnings

Quality of Pellets Obtained from Whole Trees Harvested from Plantations, Coppice Forests and Regular Thinnings

Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis

Pellet Production from Pruning and Alternative Forest Biomass: A Review of the Most Recent Research Findings

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