Pellets from Lignocellulosic Material Obtained from Pruning Guava Trees: Characterization, Energy Performance and Emissions

In this study, lignocellulosic material derived from guava tree pruning was used to make pellets in a laboratory machine. The following experiments were conducted to identify the properties of the biomass samples before the pelletizing process: chemical analysis, proximal analysis, elemental analysis, ash microanalysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG). The following analyses were performed on the densified material: moisture content, particle density, bulk density, impact resistance and calorific value. The guava pellets evaluated, with respect to open fires, mitigate the CO2, CO, CH4, HCNM, EC, OC and PM2.5 emissions. Emissions per unit of consumed energy were reduced by 8 times for PM2.5, almost 5 times for HCNM, 3 times for CH4, 7 times for CO, 2 times for CO2, 6 times with respect to EC and almost 30 times for OC. The results of the physical and energetic evaluation of the pellets indicate good potential for its use as a solid densified biofuel.