Wood Waste Pellets as an Alternative for Energy Generation in the Amazon Region

• Published in: Bioenergy research 2023-03, Vol.16 (1), p.472-483
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Glaucileide, Brito, Thais Mendes, da Silva, João Gabriel Missia, Minini, Daniela, Dias Júnior, Ananias Francisco, Arantes, Marina Donária Chaves, Batista, Djeison Cesar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bulk density; Clean technology; Composition; Energy management systems; Environmental impact; Eucalyptus; Force and energy; Forestry; Fossil fuels; Hardwoods; International standards; Life Sciences; Lumber; Manilkara; Mechanical properties; Pellets; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Ecology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences; Quality standards; Raw materials; Renewable resources; Residues; Wood; Wood Science & Technology; Wood waste
• ISSN: 1939-1234; 1939-1242
• DOI: 10.1007/s12155-022-10446-w

A significant amount of waste is generated by lumber yards in the Amazon region. The aim of this study was to investigate the production and characteristics of pellets manufactured with residual biomass from the processing of sawn wood of the species Dinizia excelsa and Manilkara elata , together with Eucalyptus spp. Eleven waste compositions (varying between 100 and 0%) of the three species ( Dinizia excelsa (DE); Manilkara elata (ME); Eucalyptus spp. (E)) were analyzed for the production of pellets. Each composition was compacted separately in a pelletizer with a production capacity of 400 kg h −1 , using a 6-mm-diameter flat die, and subsequently evaluated for proximate composition, physical, energetic, and mechanical characteristics. With the exception of the ash content, which was lower, with a value equal to 0.18% in the composition containing a high fraction of Eucalyptus (25% ME + 75% E), the pellets containing the residues of Amazonian species showed higher values of fixed carbon (22.88%) and mechanical durability (97.72%) when composed only of Dinizia excelsa and higher bulk density values (639.53 kg m −3 ) and HHV (20.39 MJ kg −1 ) when composed of 50% DE and 50% ME. All compositions met the quality standards required by international standards for export. Emphasis should be given to the species Dinizia excelsa in the production of pellets. The greater the presence of Dinizia excelsa residues in the composition, the better the pellets were for energy generation. Graphical abstract