Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4996316 | Biomass and Bioenergy | 2017 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of converting low quality hardwoods into high quality fuel pellets by using hot water as a pretreatment method. Hardwood particles from sugar maple and yellow birch trees were first pretreated with hot water at 150 °C, 175 °C and 200 °C for 30 min in a batch reactor. The solid fractions following hot water treatment were then compacted into pellets using a single pelletizer. The produced pellets exhibited a number of enhanced properties as compared to those obtained from untreated wood particles. The increases in density and energy content of pellets reached approximately 30% and 40%, respectively. Compressive strength was increased by three times or more. Results also indicated that pellets of high water resistance were obtained using material treated with hot water at a temperature of about 200 °C for both sugar maple and yellow birch wood. In addition, considerable reduction in friction in the die was observed when treated wood particles were used.
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Authors
Quy Nam Nguyen, Alain Cloutier, Tatjana Stevanovic, Alexis Achim,