Coffee Grounds as an Additive to Wood Pellets

Piotr Sołowiej (), Maciej Neugebauer and Ogulcan Esmer
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Piotr Sołowiej: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Maciej Neugebauer: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Ogulcan Esmer: Department of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, EGE University, Bornova 35100, Izmir, Turkey

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: The immense popularity of coffee around the world generates significant amounts of coffee grounds. They are often improperly disposed of, which can have a negative impact on the environment. Due to their chemical composition and physical properties, coffee grounds are an excellent bioenergy material. This paper presents a study of the feasibility of using spent coffee grounds (CG) as an additive to pine sawdust (PS) pellets to improve their energy properties. The tests were carried out on samples of pellets consisting of 100% PS, 100% CG, and mixtures of 95% PS and 5% CG, 85% PS and 15% CG, and 70% PS and 30% CG. Physical and chemical analyses were carried out to determine the suitability of the obtained pellet as a biofuel in accordance with ISO 17225. Combustion tests were also carried out in a laboratory boiler to analyze flue gases and determine CO and NO x emissions in accordance with EN-303-5 for biomass boilers. The amount of emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was also determined. Experimental results show that the addition of CG to PS reduces the durability of the pellets and increases CO and NO x emissions but increases their energy value and reduces the amount of VOC emissions. The requirements of both standards were fulfilled with a mixture of 95% PS and 5% CG. However, test results show that it is possible to add CG to PS in amounts up to 15%, although this will require additional research.

Keywords: coffee grounds; pine sawdust; pellet; bioenergy; biofuel; biomass (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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