HIGHER HEATING VALUES FOR PELLETS MADE FROM WOODWASTE AND RECYCLED NEWSPRINT

The use of pelletized woodwaste for fuel has increased substantially in recent years. Recycled newsprint offers an alternative that can be compressed into pellets or other forms for use as fuel. The purpose of these tests was to compare the higher heating values of spruce-pine-fir woodwaste pellets and recycled newsprint. The fiber sources were commercially prepared, northeastern, spruce-pine-fir (S-P-F) woodwaste pellets and recycled, fiberized, newsprint. The S-P-F had an average higher heating value of 8,705 Btu/lb. and the newsprint averaged 8,480 Btu/lb. The difference in fuel value was about 3 percent. Several advantages and disadvantages of pelletizing both fiber sources are discussed. Under some circumstances, pelletized or compressed newsprint for fuel may be a viable alternative to deinking and recycling, for use in papermaking.