Abstract
The use of biomass pellets as a source of renewable energy has increased in recent times. However, pellet storage during transportation can compromise their properties, due to fluctuating temperature and humid environments. Here, we show that extended storage of one month at 40 °C and 85% relative humidity causes significant biomass pellet degradation. This was evidenced by higher pellet porosity, weight gain, increased inclusion body formation and creation of an internal network of cracks. We quantify the inclusion and pore growth processes at the surface and within the pellets, which has implications for subsequent thermochemical conversion. The global bioenergy transition may depend upon biomass pellets, and this study shows that storage conditions are critical in the supply chain, so to maintain their quality. Without the development of stronger policies to avoid premature degradation of biomass pellets, they may not realize their full potential as a bioenergy source.
Highlights
The use of biomass pellets as a source of renewable energy has increased in recent times
By the use of digital microscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)) and highresolution micro-computed tomography, we study surface, structural and chemical changes in biomass pellets, resulting from storage
Our results suggest that significant degradation of biomass pellets was proven due to storage conditions at 40 °C and 85% relative humidity (RH)
Summary
The use of biomass pellets as a source of renewable energy has increased in recent times. We show that extended storage of one month at 40 °C and 85% relative humidity causes significant biomass pellet degradation. Due to the challenges in establishing sustainable supply chains for biomass, its heterogeneity, and the inherent physicochemical properties of biomass feedstock, such as low bulk density and high moisture content, biomass implementation has not grown as originally anticipated[2,3]. To overcome these challenges and to make raw biomass easier to handle, pretreatment processes and pelletization are used to improve its quality for later use in residential heating, large-scale electricity generation and as renewable carbon feedstock for the chemical industry[4]. Especially when dealing with large volume of pellets, can lead to selfheating, spontaneous combustion, pellet attrition, equipment fouling, and numerous health threats to workers exposed to dust particles[9,14,15,16,17]
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