EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT BINDING MATERIALS ON THE PROPERTIES OF BIOFUEL PELLETS PRODUCED FROM MDF AND PINE WOOD SAWDUST WASTE

Importance of biofuels has increased in recent years in Turkey as well as in the World. Million tones of biomaterials such as wood are used in woody industries and significant amount of wood waste is obtained. It is possible to make use of wood waste as fuel by pelletizing them. In this study, samples of pine wood sawdust (PWS) and medium density fiber (MDF) sawdust pellets have been obtained. After carrying out chemical analyses on these samples; the ratio of volatile matter, upper calorific value, lower calorific value, ash, total humidity rate and sulfur rates have been identified. The emission values of the exhaust gases (CO, CO2, SO2, NO, NOx) forming as a result of the combustion process of pellet samples in laboratory conditions have been measured. The effects of addition of zeolite, cane molasses (CM), starch in pellet samples on the emission values have been studied. In addition, in order to identify the combustion velocities of the pellet samples, a fixed-bed experimental singeing machine has been devised. As a conclusion, PWS pellet has been found to be a cleaner and more efficient alternative to coal of lignite type. The calorific value of MDF dust pellet samples has reached a value of 3.857 cal/gr as a result of the fire retardant materials in it. The lowest emission values have been observed in PWS pellets which contains 9% zeolite as a binding material. It has been found out that PWS burning with zeolite reduces the combustion velocity and thus increasing the efficiency and also reducing the stack gas emission.