Possibility of the Utilization of Waste Glycerol as an Addition to Wood Pellets

Agnieszka Bala-Litwiniak,Henryk Radomiak

doi:10.1007/s12649-018-0260-7

Agnieszka Bala-Litwiniak, Henryk Radomiak

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0260-7

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Abstract

Production of liquid biofuels derived from vegetable oils in recent years significantly increased which causes surplus of by-product (waste glycerol) from this process. Therefore it is of great importance to find cheap and fast method of use its utilization. In this study, a possibility of the utilization of technical purity glycerin as an addition to wood pellets intended for heating purposes has been investigated. Usefulness of pellets contained glycerol additions has been compared in terms of applicable quality standards for wood pellets. Effects of waste glycerol addition on concentration of combustion products as well as temperature in heat exchanger have also been examined. The experimental results show that co-combustion of waste glycerol with wood sawdust does not worsen heating efficiency in a standard boiler. Moreover, 4.5 and 7% presence of glycerol in wood pellets correlated to a nearly twofold decrease of NOx concentration in flue gas. Therefore, the use of the waste glycerol as a binder for the production of pellets can be a simple and cost-effective solution of its utilization.

Highlights

In European Union, 8% addition of biodiesel to diesel fuel is universally applied and according to Directive 2009/28/EC, at the latest in 2020, 10% addition will become mandatory
Biodiesel produced from rapeseed, called rape methyl ester (RME) is made using the transesterification process involving the methanolysis of rape seed oil [3, 4]
The study indicates that the physicochemical parameters of resulting glycerin-wood pellets meet the European standards

Summary

Introduction

In European Union, 8% addition of biodiesel to diesel fuel is universally applied and according to Directive 2009/28/EC, at the latest in 2020, 10% addition will become mandatory. The plant source of biodiesel usually depends on the crops amenable to the regional climate. In South and North America, soybean oil is the most commonly biodiesel feedstock, whereas rapeseed oil is the most common source in European Union where its share of the total area of oilseed crops is somewhat more than 80% [2]. Biodiesel produced from rapeseed, called rape methyl ester (RME) is made using the transesterification process involving the methanolysis of rape seed oil [3, 4].

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