Published

2015-01-01

Effect of particle size and addition of cocoa pod husk on the properties of sawdust and coal pellets

Efecto del tamaño de partícula y la adición de cáscara de cacao en las propiedades de los pellets de aserrín y carbón

Keywords:

Biomass, coal, cocoa pod husks, densification, pellets, sawdust (en)
Biomasa, carbón, cáscara de coco, densificación, pellets, aserrín (es)

Downloads

Authors

  • Carlos Andrés Forero Nuñez Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Joachim Jochum University of Applied Sciences Offenburg
  • Fabio Emiro Sierra-Vargas Universidad Nacional de Colombia
The continuous increase of the world energy demand, the rise of fossil fuels costs, and the strong environmental policies around the globe are some of the reasons for the wood pellets industry increase. However, there are some other available biomass feedstocks capable of being densified for energy production. Among the various options, the use of mixed biomass pellets is becoming remark-able due to the wide variety of species, although more research is needed in order to enhance the mechanical properties of these pellets. This study aims to identify the effect of particle size on the mechanical properties of sawdust and coal pellets when cocoa pod husks are used as an additive. Cocoa pod husks have a similar composition to sawdust and less sulfur and nitrogen than coal. Thus, the use of this additive might decrease the environmental impact during coal pellets combustion. Results show an attractive potential of cocoa pod husks grinds for pellet production, an increase of the durability of coal pellets mixed with this raw material, and similar performance between cocoa pod husks and sawdust pellets. The compression ratio, the compressive and impact resistance varied linearly with the addition of cocoa pod husks.
El incremento en la demanda de energía a nivel mundial, el alza en los precios de combustibles fósiles y las fuertes políticas ambientales son algunas de las razones del crecimiento de la industria de los pellets de madera. Sin embargo, existen otras materias primas disponibles que pueden ser densificadas para la producción de energía. Dadas las diferentes opciones, el uso de pellets mixtos de biomasa se ha convertido en una opción favorable, a pesar de que es necesaria una mayor investigación con el fin de mejorar las propiedades mecánicas de los pellets. Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar el efecto del tamaño de partícula sobre las propiedades mecánicas de los pellets de aserrín y carbón cuando la cáscara de cacao se usa como aditivo. Las cascaras de caco tienen una composición similar al aserrín y menos contenido de azufre y nitrógeno que el carbón. Por lo tanto el uso de este aditivo puede disminuir el impacto ambiental durante la combustión de pellets de carbón. Los resultados muestran un potencial atractivo para la producción de pellets con cacao molido, un incremento de la durabilidad de los pellets de carbón mezclados con esta materia prima y un rendimiento similar entre los pellets de cacao y aserrín. La relación de compresión, la resistencia a la compresión y al impacto variaron linealmente con la adición de cáscara de cacao.

References

American Society for Testing and Materials (2013). Standard Test Method for Moisture Analysis of particulate wood fuels ASTM E871, West Conshohocken: ASTM International. Available in: http://www.astm.org/Standards/E871.htm

American Society for Testing and Materials (2013). Standard Test Method for Volatile matter in the analysis of particulate wood fuels ASTM E872. West Conshohocken: ASTM International. Available in: http://www.astm.org/Standards/E872.htm

American Society for Testing and Materials (2007). Standard Test Method for Ash in Biomass ASTM 1755, West Conshohocken: ASTM International. Available in: http://www.astm.org/Standards/E1755.htm

American Society for Testing and Materials (2014). Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen in Analysis samples of Coal and Carbon in Analysis samples of coal and coke ASTM D5373. West Conshohocken: ASTM International. Available in: http://www.astm.org/Standards/D5373.htm

American Society for Testing and Materials (2014). Standard Test Method for sulfur in the analysis sample of coal and coke using high-temperature tube furnace combustion ASTM D4239. West Conshohocken: ASTM International. Available in: http://www.astm.org/Standards/D4239.htm

Byoung, J. A., Chang, H. S., Lee, S. M., Choi, D. H., Cho, S. T., Han, G. S., & Yang, I. (2014). Effect of binders on the durability of wood pellets fabricated from LarixKaemferi C. and LiriodendromTulipifera L. Sawdust. Renewable energy, 62, 18-23. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148113003315

Erlich, C. (2009). Comparative study of residue pellets from cane sugar and palm-oil industries with commercial wood pellets, applied in downdraft gasification (Ph. D. Thesis). Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. Available in: http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:272453

Forero-Nuñez, C. A., Jochum, J., & Sierra-Vargas, F. E. (2012). Characterization and feasibility of biomass fuel pellets made of Colombian timber, coconut and oil palm residues regarding European standards. Environmental Biotechnology, 8(2), 67-76. Available in: http://www.environmentalbiotechnology.pl/eb_dzialy/eb_online/2012/vol8_2/ms179.pdf

Holman, J. P. (2001). Experimental Methods for Engineers (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Kaliyan, N., & Vance Morey, R. (2009). Factors affecting strength and durability of densified biomass products. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33, 337-359. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953408002146

Kaliyan, N., & Vance Morey, R. (2009). Constitutive model for densification of corn stover and switchgrass. Biosystems engineering, 104, 47-63. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1537511009001597

Karkania, V., Fanara, E., & Zabaniotou, A. (2012). Review of sustainable biomass pellets production- A study for agricultural residue pellets market in Greece. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 1426-1436. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032111005740

Limousy, L., Jeguirim, M., Dutournie, P., Kraiem, N., Lajili, M., & Said, R. (2013). Gaseous products and particulate matter emissions of biomass residential boiler fired with spent coffee ground pellets, Fuel, 107, 323-329. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236112008162

Mansur, D., Tago, T., Masuda, T., & Abimanyu, H. (2014). Conversion of cacao pod husks by pyrolysis and catalytic reaction to produce useful chemicals. Biomass and Bioenergy, 66, 275-285. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953414001949

Munawai, S. S., & Subiyanto, B. (2014). Characterization of biomass pellet made from Solid Waste Oil Palm Industry. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 20, 336-341. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029614000437

Nunes, L. J. R., Matias, J. C. O., & Castalao, J. P. S. (2014). Mixed biomass pellets from thermal energy production: A review of combustion models. Applied Energy, 127, 135-140. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914 00395X

Obernberger, I., & Thek, G. (2004). Physical characterization and chemical composition of densified biomass fuels with regard to their combustion behaviour. Biomass and Bioenergy, 27, 653-669. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953404001072

Ofori-Boateng, C., & Teong-Lee, K. (2013). The potential of using cocoa pod husks as green solid base catalysts for the transesterification of soybean oil into biodiesel: Effects of biodiesel on engine performance. Chemical Engineering Journal, 200, 395-401. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894713000867

Okeh C. O., Onwosi, Ch. O., & Odibo, F. J. C. (2014). Biogas production from rice husks generated from various rice mills in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Renewable Energy, 62, 204-208. Available in: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148113003510

REN21 (2014). Renewables 2013 Global Status Report. Available in: http://www.ren21.net/portals/0/documents/resources/gsr/2013/gsr2013_lowres.pdf

Sanchez-Silva, L., López-González, D., Villaseñor, J., Sanchez, P., & Valverde, J. L. (2012). Thermogravimetric-mass spectrometric analysis of lignocellulosic and marine biomass pyrolysis. Bioresource Technology, 109, 163-172. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852412000053

Serra, J., & Ventura, F. (1999). Protein quality assessment in cocoa husk. Food Research International, 32, 201-208. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996999000885

Syamsiro, M., Saptoadi, H., Tambunan, B. H., Pambudi, N. A. (2012). A preliminary study on use of cocoa pod husks as a renewable source of energy in Indonesia. Energy for Sustainable development, 16, 74-77. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0973082611000834

Vriesmann, L. C., Amboni, R. D. d. M. C., & Petkowics, C. L. d. O. (2011). Cacao pod husks /Theobromacaco L.): Composition and hot-water-soluble pectins. Industrial Crops and Products, 34, 1173-1181. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669011001142

Vriesmann, L. C., Teófilo, R. F., & Petkowic, C. L. d. O. (2012). Extraction and characterization of pectin from cacao pod husks (Theobroma cacao L.) with citric acid. LWT Food science and technology, 49, 108-116. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643812001892

Zhengang, L., Quek, A., & Balasubramanian, R. (2014). Preparation and characterization of fuel pellets from woody biomass, agro-residues and their corresponding hydrochars. Applied Energy, 113, 1315-1322. Available in: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261913007319

License

Copyright (c) 2015 Carlos Andrés Forero Nuñez, Joachim Jochum, Fabio Emiro Sierra-Vargas

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The authors or holders of the copyright for each article hereby confer exclusive, limited and free authorization on the Universidad Nacional de Colombia's journal Ingeniería e Investigación concerning the aforementioned article which, once it has been evaluated and approved, will be submitted for publication, in line with the following items:

1.    The version which has been corrected according to the evaluators' suggestions will be remitted and it will be made clear whether the aforementioned article is an unedited document regarding which the rights to be authorized are held and total responsibility will be assumed by the authors for the content of the work being submitted to Ingeniería e Investigación, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and third-parties;

2.    The authorization conferred on the journal will come into force from the date on which it is included in the respective volume and issue of Ingeniería e Investigación in the Open Journal Systems and on the journal's main page (https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/ingeinv), as well as in different databases and indices in which the publication is indexed;

3.    The authors authorize the Universidad Nacional de Colombia's journal Ingeniería e Investigación to publish the document in whatever required format (printed, digital, electronic or whatsoever known or yet to be discovered form) and authorize Ingeniería e Investigación to include the work in any indices and/or search engines deemed necessary for promoting its diffusion;

4.    The authors accept that such authorization is given free of charge and they, therefore, waive any right to receive remuneration from the publication, distribution, public communication and any use whatsoever referred to in the terms of this authorization.