Investigating the Physio‑chemical Properties of Densified Biomass Pellet Fuels from Fruit and Vegetable Market Waste

摘要

In this present research work, fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) sourced from the commercial market is transformed to solidfuels. Solid biomass fuel for commercial heating is produced using agricultural wastes. This in turn reduces the effect ofenvironmental issues. Enough investigations are seen in the literature for Anacardium occidentale kernels, and no study isseen for materials Brassica oleracea leaves, Moringa oleifera pods, Citrullus lanatus lunds and Annona squamosa seedsand are considered for testing and evaluation in the present study. The amount of moisture contents of residues was dried inrotary drum dryer using sun parabolic dish collector coupled with U-type air heater (1000 W). The dried loose biomassesare powdered into grains (< 50 μm) by crushing. By the application of manual press briquetting machine (800 psi), alongwith the starch binder (< 10%) the grains are pelleted. Inclusions of starch binder effectively bind the material and provideincreased compressive strength, a desired one. The outcome for all the above fuels is in the range of: compression strength(300–450 psi), proximate analysis (< 2% of ash), ultimate analysis (< 2% sulphur), moisture content (< 10%), calorific value(15–18 MJ/kg), bulk density (250–350 kg/m~3), resistance to water penetration (70–82%), drop shatter resistance (> 94.5%)and tumbling test (> 95%). Less costs of FVW pellets, for the fuel use in boilers and incinerators, etc., provide as a potentialand eco-friendly fuel for energy generation.