Improving the Physical, Mechanical and Energetic Characteristics of Pine Sawdust by the Addition of up to 40% Agave durangensis Gentry Pellets

Emmanuel Blancarte-Contreras, Sacramento Corral-Rivas, Tilo Gustavo Domínguez-Gómez, José Encarnación Lujan-Soto, José Rodolfo Goche-Télles and Eusebio Montiel-Antuna
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Emmanuel Blancarte-Contreras: Instituto Tecnológico de El Salto (ITES), Tecnológico Nacional de México, Calle Tecnológico No. 101. Colonia La Forestal, El Salto 34942, Mexico
Sacramento Corral-Rivas: Instituto Tecnológico de El Salto (ITES), Tecnológico Nacional de México, Calle Tecnológico No. 101. Colonia La Forestal, El Salto 34942, Mexico
Tilo Gustavo Domínguez-Gómez: Instituto Tecnológico de El Salto (ITES), Tecnológico Nacional de México, Calle Tecnológico No. 101. Colonia La Forestal, El Salto 34942, Mexico
José Encarnación Lujan-Soto: Instituto Tecnológico de El Salto (ITES), Tecnológico Nacional de México, Calle Tecnológico No. 101. Colonia La Forestal, El Salto 34942, Mexico
José Rodolfo Goche-Télles: Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Blvd. del Guadiana 501. Cuidad Universitaria, Durango 34120, Mexico
Eusebio Montiel-Antuna: Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Blvd. del Guadiana 501. Cuidad Universitaria, Durango 34120, Mexico

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Agave durangensis Gentry biomass, as a residue from the mezcal production process, may be an interesting bioenergy alternative; however, its high ash content limits its application. In this study, pellets were generated with agave fiber mixed with Pinus species sawdust in the following six proportions (%): 100–0 (control), 80–20, 60–40, 40–60, 20–80 and 0–100 (control). The physical, chemical and energetic properties of the pellets were evaluated according to the UNE-EN ISO 17225-6, UNE EN ISO 17827-2, UNE-EN ISO 17828, UNE-EN ISO 18122, UNE-EN ISO 18123, UNE-EN ISO 18125, and UNE-EN ISO 18134-1 standards. The results showed significant statistical differences ( p < 0.05) among the treatments tested. The percentage of volatile material and fixed carbon ranged from 86.53 to 89.96% and 4.17 to 8.16%, respectively; the ash content ranged from 0.27 to 10.06%, and the calorific value ranged from 17.33 to 18.03 MJ/kg. Bulk density ranged from 725.76 to 737.37 kg/m 3 and the impact-strength index was in the range of 69.33 to 126.66. The mechanical hardness and compressive strength were found to be in the ranges of 50.5 to 68.4% and 0.90 to 36.65 N/mm, respectively. Pellets generated with Agave residue mixture ≤ 40% were identified as promising biobased resources for the sustainable production of renewable energy.

Keywords: Agave durangensis; pellets; Pinus spp.; physical and energetic properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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