The effect of chipping method on the geometry of particles produced from date palm frond

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the effect of chipping method on geometry of particles obtained from date palm frond as a lignocellulose residue. For this purpose, date palm fronds were chipped with four different equipment: chipper-flaker, chipper-hammer mill, flaker-hammer mill, and chipper-flaker-hammer mill. The geometry of the particle including particle size, particle size distribution, shape, and aspect ratio were investigated. The results showed that maximum weight percentage (more than 40%) was related to the particles sizes of +30/-40 mesh for all chipping methods and more than 50% of all generated particles had a needle shape. In the chipper-hammer mill method, both the weight percentage of useable particles in particleboard and the particle percentage of the rectangle or nearly rectangle particle were higher. Thus, the chipper-hammer mill method was judged to be the best method.