Hard Wood Research Articles

Experiments with the Purpose of Expanding the Loading Capacity of Standard Construction Grapples

A grapple is a device that includes at least one gripping arrangement. The gripping arrangement is configured to grip and traverse objects so as to reach a desired location on site and to anchor it, therefore allowing the work to be carried out. [1] A method for controlling the fill volume of a grapple, such as a bulk-material crane grapple which includes at least one hoist-and-closure unit, may include adjusting the fill volume of the grapple is during the grapple closure process by adjusting/controlling the grapple hoist height. The grapple hoist speed and/or grapple hoist height may be the controlling parameter for the adjustment of the fill volume of the grapple. [2]Grapples geometric configuration is established by calculating the useful load mass. In the experiments performed in the present paper the load mass was 3000 kg. In exploitation, in cases where relatively low density materials, if compared to standard materials, are being moved/processed, changes to the volume capacity must be done; [3] changes that need to be correlated with the new materials and the exploitation conditions.The tractor attachment is a grapple assembly, and the grapple assembly kit includes a mounting assembly, a plurality of clamping units, and a plurality of support units. [4] A connection system for coupling an claw to a work vehicle includes a receiver assembly that needs to be implement and configured to a connector assembly of an arm of the work vehicle. [5]The solution developed by the authors consists in prolonging and consolidating the active elements of the grapple, by equipping it with additional elements that take and process load tensions, in the present case hard wood logs; and a consolidation and protection system that protects it from wear, that mostly appears when the hook crane repeatedly hits the ground in order to collect the deposited logs.The additional elements for handling and processing logs are made out of low alloyed steel, thus by configuring the tips we assure the good gliding of processed materials on the active/used surfaces. The self-protection system to wear is made out of boron micro-alloyed steel sheets that have hardness values up to 500 HB. Joining the grapple ensemble with specialized elements was performed through welding.

Revisiting the estimation of cutting power with different energetic methods while sawing soft and hard woods on the circular sawing machine: a Central European case

In the classical approaches, used in Central Europe in practice, cutting forces and cutting power in sawing processes of timber are commonly computed by means of the specific cutting resistance kc. It needs to be highlighted that accessible sources in handbooks and the scientific literature do not provide any data about wood provenance, nor about cutting conditions, in which cutting resistance has been empirically determined. In the analyses of sawing processes, the use of a model with elements of fracture mechanics involved is an alternative way. In this work, predictions of the newly developed model (FRAC_MOD) for the circular sawing machine are presented. Thanks to this modern approach, it was possible to reveal the usefulness of the FRAC_MOD, using experimental results data on fracture toughness and shear yield stresses of both Polish pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Czech beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.). The achieved results were compared to the forecasted values obtained with classical models (CLAS_PL and CLAS_CZ), which are commonly applied in Central European sawmills. The carried out analyses allowed us to discover undesired effects in the form of underestimation of cutting power when applying the CLAS_PL and CLAS_CZ models. For that reason, the FRAC_MOD cutting model could be suggested for the prediction of energetic effects in cases of dynamical analyses and even unsteady cases.

Chemical constituents of tropical woods and resistance to the invasive drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis

AbstractWood‐feeding, nesting and production of secondary reproductives are key determinant traits of invasive species of drywood termites, and the West Indian drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis (Walker) is one of their major examples of worldwide concern as pest species of structural lumber, furniture and other wood products. The problem and losses by this species are determined by the prevailing wood characteristics. However, despite the current widespread occurrence of this species in the tropics, except Asia, tropical wood resistance and underlying mechanisms of resistance against this termite are scarcely known. Nonetheless, wood hardness and particularly wood density were recently recognized as important underlying traits for C. brevis resistance in tropical woods, but the chemical wood constituents were not considered. Here, we assessed tropical wood resistance to the invasive termite species C. brevis and tested the relevance of their holocellulose, lignin and (total) extractive contents preventing termite infestation. Free‐choice and no‐choice tests were carried out in parallel with wood chemical characterization. Resistance to the West Indian termite varied with wood species in terms of both colonization and consumption, but only under free‐choice testing because without choice, no significant difference was detected among wood species. Regardless, none of these traits were significantly correlated with wood resistance to C. brevis. Therefore, wood physical resistance, particularly wood density, seems the main recognized determinant of tropical wood resistance against the West Indian drywood termite. The pattern of termite movement on the surface of soft, mid and hard wood was also consistent with this conclusion.

Engineered Pyrogenic Materials as Tools to Affect Arsenic Mobility in Old Mine Site Soil of Mediterranean Region.

The application of pyrogenic materials in immobilization processes of metalloids represents a burning issue in environmental and waste applications and management. The main objective of this study was to characterize the effect of biomass pretreatment by Cu, Fe and Mg blending and pyrolysis temperature on As sorption efficiency as a model of anionic metalloids from model solutions and As immobilization in old mine soil by pyrogenic materials. The physico-chemical characterization of engineered materials produced in slow pyrolysis process at 400 and 700°C from metal-blended hard wood chips (30% w/w) showed increasing of surface areas (1.4-1.8-fold), changes in pH, and more than 50% decrease in total C content. The batch sorption processes of As ions by Cu-modified pyrogenic materials (CuPM), Fe-modified pyrogenic materials (FePM), and Mg-modified pyrogenic materials (MgPM) showed increasing uptake in order CuPM700 (Qmax 2.56mgg-1) < CuPM400 (Qmax 3.88mgg-1) < FePM700 (Qmax 5.90mgg-1) < MgPM700 (Qmax 7.42mgg-1) < MgPM400 (Qmax 9.59mgg-1) < FePM400 (Qmax 10.55mgg-1). Engineered pyrogenic materials produced at 400°C showed higher immobilization effect on soluble As in soil pore water of old mine site soil from Mediterranean area. FePM400 reduced mobility of arsenic > 3.2 times and MgPM400 > 5 times compared to control. Promising pyrogenic material MgPM400 showed immobilization effect also on additional heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn) present in studied soil.

ASPEN Plus predictive simulation of soft and hard wood pyrolysis for bio-energy recovery

Thermochemical process such as pyrolysis is one of the most developed options for energy recovery from lignocellulosic biomass sources. A steady-state simulation model was developed for the energy recovery from biomass via pyrolysis using ASPEN Plus v8.8. The biomass feedstocks were beech, Ailanthus and spruce wood. Beech is a hardwood, Ailanthus is a soft hardwood and spruce is softwood. The pyrolysis reactor was modelled by a combination of the yield-shift reactor and the Gibbs reactor. The product yield and composition was calculated by the software via the minimisation of Gibbs free energy method. The simulation was run at atmospheric pressure and 500°C temperature. A bio-oil yield of 62.8% for beech wood, 58.3% for Ailanthus and 54.2% for spruce wood was obtained. Model yield and product composition was validated and considered adequate. The simulation model can be considered as truly predictive for the pyrolysis of soft and hardwood samples in the domain of product yield and product composition.

Response of hardwood cuttings of brown Turkey fig to planting time and auxin concentration

Present investigation was conducted on hard wood cuttings of fig cv. Brown Turkey by treating with various Indole -3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations viz. 500, 1000, 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 ppm and distilled water (Control). These IBA treated hardwood cuttings of fig were planted at different intervals of time i.e. 1st January, 15th January, 1st February and 15th February and data were collected at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting. Fig cuttings treated with IBA 3500 ppm and planted on 1st February showed maximum sprouting percentage (25.07, 57.58 and 76.66, at 30, 60 and 90 DAP, respectively), number of shoots per cutting (5.40 and 5.89 at 60 and 90 DAP, respectively), fresh weight of shoot (26.49 and 51.50g at 60 and 90 DAP, respectively), dry weight of shoot (9.63 and 19.53 g at 60 and 90 DAP, respectively) and maximum number of roots per cutting (25.50, 32.00 and 35.16 at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting respectively), fresh weight of root (0.91, 1.51 and 1.89 g 30, 60 and 90 DAP, respectively) dry weight of root (0.53, 0.64 and 0.70g at 30, 60 and 90 DAP, respectively) and highest survival percentage (70.51%) was also recorded in same cuttings after 90 days. This was followed by cuttings treated with 4500 ppm IBA planted on 1st February.

К проблеме телесности в произведениях Степана Эрьзи (1876–1959)

The attempts to understand the art of S. Erzia, based on the complex circumstances of his life, are unconvincing. Erzia’s skills were formed on the basis of the Italian Renaissance tradition, European Neoclassicism, and, partly, impressionism. He did not accept the principles of social realism. Erzia was an excellent master of marble, and later became the only master in the world who could work with the hard wood of the Argentine forests. The relevance of the research lies in the novel approach to the sculptor’s creativity. The idea is that the sculptor’s creativity depends on the discovery of new expressive possibilities of a human body, embodied in the physicality of indoor and monumental sculptures. Erzia significantly updated the iconography of images that were well-established in the history of art. These conclusions are based on the methods of proper art history analysis and phenomenological approach. Among the works that deserve special attention are those that he himself sought to preserve and which he brought to Russia on his return from Argentina. These are the monumental portraits of Alexander Nevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Beethoven, Michelangelo, and Moses. For Erzia they were the spiritual leaders of humanity, its heroes. The symbols of eternal femininity for Erzia are the Mother Eve and the girl-nymph, whose physicality embodied the ideas of Argentines about beauty. The unique portraits of Mordovian and Russian peasants, in their ethnic expressiveness, enshrine the memory of Russia. The sculptor has repeatedly embodied telluric powers and the mysticism of the Selva in his works. Perhaps this is why he so much valued the natural features of wood as a material. Not only its density and color, but even the knurrs on the bark and roots were his no less valuable artistic means. Over the time, Erzia’s sculpture shows more and more clearly the emotional excess inherent in the culture of Latin Americans and the features of transcultural inversion.

ASPEN Plus predictive simulation of soft and hard wood pyrolysis for bio-energy recovery

ASPEN Plus predictive simulation of soft and hard wood pyrolysis for bio-energy recovery

Perception of Local Community of Pinogu Toward Forest and Its Utilization

This study was aimed to obtain the Pinogu local peoples’s perception of the forest for their lives and to identification of forest resources utilization. Pinogu is a Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park’s enclave. The research was conducted in 2017 at Pinogu Sub-district which included five villages there are Bangiyo, Pinogu Induk, Pinogu Permai, Tilongibila and Dataran Hijau. Data collected with survey method by interviewing 150 respondents from five villages. Data was analyzed using, Likert Scale, Kendall Tau Correlation test and descriptive qualitative. Overall, the results showed forest perception in Pinogu’s local peoples was in fairly good category with value 79.69 from 40 - 100 and influenced by position in village communities variable. The local peoples utilized the forest resources inculdes hard wood, rattan, medicinal plants, wild animals, forest fruits, forest mushrooms, honey. This forest resources obtained from the forests around Pinogu and inside area of Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park.

Perception of Local Community of Pinogu Toward Forest and Its Utilization

This study was aimed to obtain the Pinogu local peoples’s perception of the forest for their lives and to identification of forest resources utilization. Pinogu is a Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park’s enclave. The research was conducted in 2017 at Pinogu Sub-district which included five villages there are Bangiyo, Pinogu Induk, Pinogu Permai, Tilongibila and Dataran Hijau. Data collected with survey method by interviewing 150 respondents from five villages. Data was analyzed using, Likert Scale, Kendall Tau Correlation test and descriptive qualitative. Overall, the results showed forest perception in Pinogu’s local peoples was in fairly good category with value 79.69 from 40 - 100 and influenced by position in village communities variable. The local peoples utilized the forest resources inculdes hard wood, rattan, medicinal plants, wild animals, forest fruits, forest mushrooms, honey. This forest resources obtained from the forests around Pinogu and inside area of Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. Keywords: Bogani Nani Wartabone, enclave, forest, Pinogu, perception

Experimenting the Use of Fire in the Operational Chain of Prehistoric Wooden Tools: the Digging Sticks of Poggetti Vecchi (Italy)

As known, artefacts made from wood are very rarely encountered in prehistoric deposits due to the low durability of this material. Emergency excavations in the spring of 2012 at Poggetti Vecchi, Central Italy, brought to light an open-air, stratified Palaeolithic site of an overall area of around 160 m2. The finds are radiometrically dated to the late Middle Pleistocene. The site is therefore of particular interest, not only because it offers snapshots of the local environment at a time when early Neanderthals occupied the area but also in view of the recovery of wooden tools. The presence of a burnt film on some of the artefacts has led us to conjecture that, in addition to stone tools, fire was also used in the manufacture of the sticks, as documented in ethnography and hypothesised for prehistoric digging sticks. An experimental study was carried out to reconstruct the operational chain of this kind of tool. This study demonstrates that the use of fire was functional to the manufacture of the sticks featuring this morphology. The working of a very hard wood like Buxus is painstaking and requires a complex operational chain, from the selection of the particular wood to its working employing stone tools and fire, with a significant investment of time and effort.

EFFECT OF GROWTH REGULATOR INDOLE-3 BUTYRIC ACID AND AGRICULTURAL MEDIA TO PROPAGATION OF Hibiscus rosa - sinensis L. CUTTINGS UNDER PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS

This experiment was carried out in green house of Department of Horticulture and Garden Engineering, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar for the period from 1/4/2018 to 1/11/2018 at study the effect of the growth regulator Regulator Indole-3 butyric acid (IBA) on concentrations of 0, 1500, 3000, 4500 mg. L-1 and the agricultural media of sand, sand with peatmoss 2: 1, sand with poultry litter 3% to propagation the cutting of Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis L. Plant. By using a stem cutting and hard wood, this study according to carried out as Factorial Experimental with a Complete randomized design (CRD) 4 x 3. It included 12 experimental units with three replicates of 20 cutting in each experimental unit and means were compared using L.S.D test on 5% probability. The results showed the following. The results showed that immersion of cutting in concentrations of IBA achieved a significant increase in rooting ratios and a superior concentration of 4500 mg. L-1, giving the highest rooting rate of 90.00%, while the comparison treatment recorded the lowest rate of 36.67%. The concentrations achieved 4500 mg. L-1 significant increases for all charachters in this study including: mean of number, and diameter of root, mean number and area of leaves, height of plant, content of leaves from NPK reached of 24.00 root.cutting-1, 5.31 mm.root-1, 73.74 leaf. Trans plant-1, 7264.70 cm2. Trans plant-1, 81.89 cm. Trans plant-1, 2.10%, 1.77%, 0.55%, respectively. While, the control treatment gave the lowest value of 5.33 root.cutting-1, 1.62 mm.root-1, 45.15 leaf. Trans plant-1, 3534.52 cm2. Trans plant-1, 60.19 cm. Trans plant-1, 1.92%, 1.73%, 0.53 %, respectively. The treatment of the agricultural media /sand with poultry litter 3%/ have a significant effect on all the characters compared to the other media of 19.42 root.cutting-1, 5.49 mm.root-1, 111.00 leaf. Tran's plant-1, 13886.16 cm2. Trans plant-1, 110.08 cm. Trans plant-1, 2.17%, 1.78%, 0.57%, respectively. But, the control treatment gave lowest value of 13.58 root.cutting-1, 2.42 mm.root-1, 32.64 leaf. Trans plant-1, 1025.78 cm2. Trans plant-1, 45.92 cm. Trans plant-1, 1.89%, 1.71%, 0.52%, respectively. The interaction of the study factors significantly affected the root and vegetative characters of plants after six months of cultivation. The interaction between of IBA concentration 4500 mg-1 and media sand with poultry litter 3% significantly exceeded the other treatments by giving the highest rates of the previous studied.

Physical, chemical and mechanical properties of corn sheath as pulp and paper raw material

Most papers are made from virgin wood-based pulp of hardwood sources but recently, softwood have received enormous attention as alternative to hard wood because the hardwood takes a significant number of years to mature enough for use in the pulp and paper industry unlike softwood which are majorly annual plants. The annual crop in focus in this work is the yellow open-pollinated variety of corn which generates tons of waste at harvest. A novel attempt is made to ascertain the viability of corn sheaths as raw material for the pulp and paper industry by carrying out a comprehensive analysis on the pulp and paper made from the pulp. The sheaths were dried, shred and cut into pieces suitable for the digester and the pulps obtained were analysed for physico-chemical properties. Hand sheets were also made using the generated pulp and its physico-mechanical properties were analysed. Results obtained were compared with pulp from corn husks from other parts of the country, three Nigerian fibre sources – silk cotton, bagasse and rice straw and other foreign non-wood sources and found to be of competitive properties. Pulp properties of Lignin content, ash content, cellulose, hot and cold water solubility of the fibres were 13.72 ± 1.21%, 1.27 ± 0.23%, 53.26 ± 1.11%, 15.20 ± 2.11 and 6.14 ± 2.43 respectively while the mechanical properties of paper from the pulp were Bursting strength (282.163 KPa m2/g), Tear strength (146.119), Tensile strength (257.6N/m) and Tensile Index (3.9Nm/g). It was found that in all properties, the corn sheath was better than the rice straw fibers but not as good as the silk cotton and bagasse fibers. However, the corn sheath has been identified, as a viable raw material for the pulp and paper industry in Nigeria.

On-farm Evaluations of Wood-derived, Waste Paper, and Plastic Mulch Materials for Weed Control in Florida Container Nurseries

Mulches have been evaluated extensively as a weed management tool in container plant production, but most research has focused on loose-fill wood-derived mulch materials, such as pine bark or wood chips. In this experiment, pine (mixed Pinus sp.) bark (PB), shredded hardwood (HW), and pine sawdust were evaluated for weed control and crop response both alone and in combination with a guar gum tackifier alongside a plastic film mulch, a paper slurry mulch, and the paper slurry mulch + PB and compared with a nonmulched, nontreated control and a single application of preemergence herbicide (oxyfluorfen + pendimethalin). Mulch materials were applied to nursery containers ranging from 7 to 25 gal at two different nurseries and at two research centers in central Florida in 2017 and 2018. Results showed that the plastic mulch provided more than a 90% reduction in hand weeding time and weed weight over a 6-month period, and similar control was achieved with PB, paper slurry + PB, and the HW treatment (64% to 91% reduction in weeding time and weed weight). No growth differences were observed with any mulch treatment in any species evaluated including ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum), Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), or podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllum).

A Material Perspective of Wood, Smoke, and BBQ

For those of us who have attempted to barbecue (BBQ), wood matters. Smoking delicious meats is effectively a chemical process that involves control over combustion of organic materials. Here, we get joint insight from a local pitmaster and a materials scientist.

Structure analysis of three non-wood materials for liner paper

AbstractThe potential use of sago pith waste, bamboo, and water hyacinth based on the characteristics of raw materials to make liner paper were studied. The analysis conducted covered the analysis of physical characteristics, chemical components, morphology (SEM), functional groups (FTIR), and crystallinity (XRD). The pulp from the three kinds of fiber was molded into paper with a certain formulation. The parameters of pulp and paper observed covered the alkaline consumption, Kappa number, pulp yield, and paper physical characteristics (grammage, bursting strength, Ring Crush Test/RCT, water content, and water absorption). The chosen paper was the paper whose characteristics resembled the quality parameter of liner paper used by the paper industry and the standard in accordance with the Indonesia’s National Standard (SNI) 14-0095-1996. The microscope images showed that the three said raw materials have long fibers: sago pith waste and water hyacinth has fibers measuring respectively 1.89±0.90 and 2.07±0.39 mm, resembling hard wood, whereas bamboos have longer fibers measuring 4.61±0.72 mm, resembling soft wood. Bamboos have the best fiber composition and characteristics for pulp and liner paper. The two paper formulas that meet the criteria for liner paper are bamboo and bamboo+water hyacinth.

Emergence of garden spurge (Euphorbia hirta) and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) in response to different physical properties and depths of common mulch materials

AbstractGreenhouse and outdoor container experiments were conducted to determine garden spurge and large crabgrass emergence when seeds were placed either on top of or below three different mulch materials [pine bark (PB), hardwood (HW), or pine straw (PS)] applied at five depths (0, 1.3, 2.5, 5.1, and 10.2 cm). To elucidate mulch characteristics that contributed to weed control, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was recorded underneath each mulch layer, moisture retention was monitored for 24 h following irrigation, and particle size was determined using standard soil sieves. HW reduced PAR (97%) more than did PB (90%) or PS (92%) at 1.3 cm, but few or no differences were noted between mulches at greater mulch depths. HW also contained the highest percentage of small particles and consequently retained more water (29%), than PB (14%) or PS (22%) 24 h following a simulated irrigation event. Emergence of large crabgrass and garden spurge was consistently greater when seeds were placed on top of the mulch, compared to seeds placed below. Emergence of both species also tended to respond to increasing depth in a quadratic manner, indicating that once a critical level of mulch was applied (2.5 to 5 cm), further reductions in weed emergence would not be observed, at least over the short term (12 wk). PB and PS tended to provide a greater reduction in emergence of both species compared to HW. This research also indicates that larger particle materials such as PB or PS would be advantageous because of their ability to suppress weed emergence regardless of seed position.

Axial and radial variations in the dimensional stability of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. wood

The introduction of Lesser-used species is as a result of the reduction in the availability of economic hard wood species also, the suitability of wood for end users has been linked with its Tangential and Radial shrinkage. This study therefore assessed the dimensional stability of Elaeis guineensis wood to determine its appropriate application and proper utilization. Three fully matured trees of E. guineensis of over 25years were selected and felled from Ogunsiji Village, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Bolts of 50cm long were cut along the axial direction at the base (10%), middle (50%) and top (90%) from the felled trees and thereafter, converted into test samples. Samples from peripheral, centre and inner along the radial position (Across the bole) were collected for base, middle and top. Dimensional stability (shrinkage) test were carried out on the E. guineensis samples and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance at P&lt;0.05. From the results, the mean value for Tangential shrinkage, Radial shrinkage and Volumetric shrinkage is 3.98±1.54%, 3.54±1.41% and 7.53±2.66%% respectively. Results further showed that shrinkage (tangential, radial and volumetric) increases along the axial direction (sampling height) from base to top and also increase radially from the bark (peripheral) to the inner part of the wood of E. guineensis . It is therefore concluded that the wood of E. guineensis from the base at the peripheral is more dimensionally stable than the other portions and is also suitable for building or structural application.Keywords: Elaeis guineensis, Lesser-used species, Radial position, Axial direction,Dimensional stability, Shrinkage

Relationship Between Hot Water Treatment (HWT) and Vitality Criteria On Dormant Cuttings of Vitis Vinifera Cultivars and Rootstocks

The experiment was conducted during 2016–2017 on Vitis vinifera cultivars (cv.) ‘Superior Seedless’, ‘Razaki’, ‘Crimson Seedless’, ‘Sultana’, ‘Royal’, and American rootstocks (41B, 1103P, 1616C, Ramsey, 5BB) at Department of Horticulture, Agriculture Faculty, Ege University, Turkey. This study was designed to investigate the effects of HWT on the quality of hard wood cuttings following the treatment. The hard wood cuttings that were hot water treated at 50 °C for 30 min which is the most common protocol against Agrobacterium vitis used worldwide. After HWT, cuttings (ungrafted) were planted in black polythene bags for rooting in greenhouse conditions. In this experiment, the effects of HWT on cuttings and root distribution (0–4 scala), root number, root length (cm), shoot length (cm), sprouting rate (%), rooting rate (%), fresh and dry root weight (g) were investigated. HWT was found to have variable effects on different characteristics of cultivar and rootstock cuttings. 41B saplings were negative affected from HWT for root distribution (0–4 scala), root number, shoot length (cm), sprouting rate (%), fresh and dry root weight (g). The HWT for 41B rootstock cuttings should be done carefully. ‘Superior Seedless’, ‘Razaki’ and ‘Royal’ were affected positively by HWT compared to non-HWT group cuttings for some criterians.

Carbonaceous Particulate Matter Emitted from a Pellet-Fired Biomass Boiler.

Biomass pellets are a source of renewable energy; although, the air pollution and exposure risks posed by the emissions from burning pellets in biomass boilers (BBs) are uncertain. The present study examines the organic species in fine particle matter (PM) emissions from an BB firing switchgrass (SwG) and hardwood (HW) biomass pellets using different test cycles. The organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) content and select semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in filter-collected PM were identified and quantified using thermal-optical analysis and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), respectively. Fine PM emissions from the BB ranged from 0.4 g/kg to 2.91 g/kg of pellets burned of which 40% ± 17% w/w was carbon. The sum of GC–MS quantified SVOCs in the PM emissions varied from 0.13 to 0.41 g/g OC. Relatively high levels of oxygenated compounds were observed in the PM emissions, and the most predominant individual SVOC constituent was levoglucosan (12.5–320 mg/g OC). The effect of boiler test cycle on emissions was generally greater than the effect due to pellet fuel type. Organic matter emissions increased at lower loads, owing to less than optimal combustion performance. Compared with other types of residential wood combustion studies, pellet burning in the current BB lowered PM emissions by nearly an order of magnitude. PM emitted from burning pellets in boilers tested across multiple studies also contains comparatively less carbon; however, the toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the PM tested across these pellet-burning studies varied substantially, and produced 2–10 times more benzo[k]fluoranthene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene on average. These results suggest that further toxicological evaluation of biomass pellet burning emissions is required to properly understand the risks posed.