Limitations of bamboo and sugarcane pellets in domestic and industrial systems

Abstract

The need to replace fossil fuels with low carbon sources has intensified the intercontinental trade in sustainable energy. However, some vegetable biomasses have energy characteristics that limit certain applications for biofuels production, specially the pellets. The objective of this work was to present these limitations of bamboo and sugarcane bagasse pellets, compared to the parameters required by the standard of the International Organization for Standardization. The study evaluated the energy properties of three types of pellets: pine, sugarcane bagasse and bamboo. It was performed the elementary analysis, immediate analysis, as well as the higher heating value, mechanical durability, energy density, bulk density and residual ash were also assessed. The results revealed negative aspects of agropellets compared to wood pellets: higher ash content, less energy released, low mechanical durability and more content of silica in the residual ash, which can cause incrustations in the burner equipment. Sugarcane bagasse pellets had the highest ash content (4.78%), the lowest higher heating value (18.52 MJ kg-1) and the highest SiO2 content in the residual ash (60.23%). The higher levels of chlorine in bamboo and sugarcane bagasse pellets indicate a greater possibility for the formation of slag and incrustations in the burning equipment.