ABSTRACT
In this study, we compared the quality of wood pellets obtained from several different raw materials, i.e., Rhododendron ponticum (Type 1), Laurus nobilis (Type 2), and Castanea sativa (Type 3). The quality of the wood pellets was characterized mainly by their bulk density, moisture content, ash content, volatiles, sulfur content in the ash, total sulfur content, heating values, elemental analysis of the ash, and chlorine content. The results showed that bulk density was similar for each type of pellet. In quality values, ash content and the sulfur content in the ash were found to be lower for Type 3 (Chestnut wood pellets) than they were for the other two types. The results also showed that dry samples of Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 wood pellets had heating values of 5057, 4691, and 4571 kcal/kg, respectively, whereas the original (undried) samples had heating values of 4571, 4409, and 4293 kcal/kg, respectively.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Mr. Serhat Durmuş, who provided guidance during the manufacturing of the pellets, and Köklü Agac Sanayi for providing the pelletizer.
Funding
The authors thank the Scientific Research Fund of Bartin University for its financial support (Project Number 2013.2.106).