Publication: Enhancing durability of rice biomass pellet with manufactured food-based biomass
Date
2017
Authors
Chong Ke Sin
Journal Title
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Abstract
The market demand for fossil fuel is getting wider nowadays. Owing to this, depletion of fossil fuel occurs. Biomass pellets, a renewable energy resource, are one of the alternatives in replacing fossil fuels. The durability of the biomass pellets is a big concern on the quality of the pellets produced. In this project, the effect of binders on the rice straw feedstocks was studied. Furthermore, the other factors affecting the durability such as the lignin content, bulk density, moisture content, moisture absorption were being discussed as well. The scope area of this project is to produce sample pellets which were tested with its physical properties later on The best binder material with the optimum mixing formulation is to be determined. This project was started with the collection of
raw materials needed, followed by the drying process. Next, characterization of raw materials was done to study the lignin content, bulk density and the moisture content of the raw materials. Then, five different types of sample pellets were being developed. They are the pure rice straw pellets, 10 % groundnut shell mixed pellets, 20 % groundnut shell mixed pellets, 10 % sunflower seed shell mixed pellets and 20 % sunflower seed shell mixed pellets. The sample pellets produced were undergoing some characterization analysis to observe its physical properties regarding to the quality of the final product. The analysis includes lignin, buk density, moisture content, moisture absorption and most importantly the durability (Through the results obtained from analysis, it is observed that the durability of the pellet has been enhanced by adding binders at the optimum mixing proportion. Basically, increased bulk density, decreased moisture absorption and increased durability of the mixed pellets have been achieved, indicating a better quality of mixed pellets compared to the pure rice straw pellets. However, adding binders slightly increase the moisture content of the pellets produced. At the end of this project, it is concluded that 20% of sunflower seed shell provides the best effect of binder on the durability of pellet. It has the highest durability and bulk density at the same time the lowest moisture absorption among another four types of sample pellets) Thus, it is proven that adding binders improves the quality of the final pellets produced.
Description
TP339.C46 2017
Keywords
Biomass energy