Durability Studies of Solid Pellets from Torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala

Abstract

Torrefaction of Leucaena Leucocephala was performed in a fixed bed reactor at temperature of 300 °C and 20 minutes holding time under inert environment. The torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala was pelletized with starch as the binder. Two parameters were investigated such as different ratio of starch addition to torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets and the thickness of torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets towards its durability. The ratios of starch addition to torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets studied were 0, 5,10,15,20 and 25 wt%. Meanwhile, the studied thickness of torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets were 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 cm. It was observed that when the ratio of starch addition to torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets was varied from 0-25 wt%, the durability increased steadily and the highest durability of 56.06% was achieved at 20 wt%. When the thickness of torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets was increased from 0.3-0.7 cm, the highest durability of 93.18 % was achieved at 0.5 cm thickness. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis was performed on the torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellets of 0 and 20 wt% ratio of starch addition. SEM images show the existence of some minor pores on the surface of torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala pellet at 250X and 1000X magnifications.