Comparative Analysis of Brazilian Residual Biomass for Pellet Production - Implementing Environmental and Resource Management - page 12

On the other hand, sugar cane bagasse, sawdust and coffee husks presented satis-
factory ash melting points. This enables the use of these biomass types as main
components in the pellet mixtures ( Table 2.1 ).

Fig. 2.5. Ash melting point

The broad geographical occurrence of Eucalyptus sp. and its outstanding proper-
ties would allow this species to be used as main component in the pellet mix.
However, its poor agglomeration characteristics limited the use of sawdust in the
mixtures to a maximum of 40%. Moreover, rice husks could not be compressed at
all due to the limitations of the available devices and due to its unsatisfactory ash
content and melting point.

Table 2.1. Brazilian pellet biomass mixtures

Material Blend 1 Blend 2 Blend 3 Blend 4 Blend 5

Sugar cane 80% 60% - - 50%

Coffee husks - - 80% 60% 50%

Eucalyptus sp.
saw dust

20% 40% 20% 40% -

Rice husks - - - - -

Sugar cane bagasse can be used as main component in the pellet blends due to its
outstanding ash melting point and satisfactory heating value, however the location
of the crops should be taken into consideration. Mostly, sugar cane grows near to
coffee plantations and to Eucalyptus sp. trees, but not to rice. Furthermore, sugar
cane bagasse and coffee husks have compatible physical-chemical properties. This
allows the production of a 50/50% coffee-sugar blend pellet with suitable physical
properties and crop logistics.