Characterisation of agroindustrial solid residues as biofuels and potential application in thermochemical processes

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 32; no. 10; pp. 1952 - 1961
• Main Authors: Virmond, Elaine, De Sena, Rennio F., Albrecht, Waldir, Althoff, Christine A., Moreira, Regina F.P.M., José, Humberto J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agroindustrial solid residues; Alternative energy source; Animals; Applied sciences; Biofuels - analysis; Biomass; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel properties; General purification processes; Hot Temperature; Industrial Waste - analysis; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Thermochemical conversion; Thermogravimetry; Wastes; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Thermochemical conversion; Agroindustrial solid residues; Biomass; Fuel properties; Alternative energy source; Fouling; Alternative energy; Biofuel; Combustion; Rice by product; Sewage sludge; Volatile matter content; Vegetal waste; Apple; Correlation analysis; Ash; Solid waste; Waste water purification; Sawdust
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2012.05.014

► Selected Brazilian agroindustrial solid residues were characterised as solid fuels. ► The fuel properties were assessed aiming their use as alternative energy sources. ► Biomass properties influence the thermochemical conversion processes. ► The agroindustrial solid residues studied can potentially be used as energy sources. In the present work, selected agroindustrial solid residues from Brazil – biosolids from meat processing wastewater treatment and mixture of sawdust with these biosolids; residues from apple and orange juice industries; sugarcane bagasse; açaí kernels (Euterpe oleracea) and rice husk – were characterised as solid fuels and an evaluation of their properties, including proximate and ultimate composition, energy content, thermal behaviour, composition and fusibility of the ashes was performed. The lower heating value of the biomasses ranged from 14.31MJkg−1 to 29.14MJkg−1, on a dry and ash free basis (daf), all presenting high volatile matter content, varying between 70.57wt.% and 85.36wt.% (daf) what improves the thermochemical conversion of the solids. The fouling and slagging tendency of the ashes was predicted based on the fuel ash composition and on the ash fusibility correlations proposed in the literature, which is important to the project and operation of biomass conversion systems. The potential for application of the Brazilian agroindustrial solid residues studied as alternative energy sources in thermochemical processes has been identified, especially concerning direct combustion for steam generation.