Pelletizing and torrefaction increase biomass energy density, generating a more homogeneous fuel with lower moisture, enabling it to burn in equipment with high energy efficiency. This work evaluated the quality of pellets made from wood particles that had been densified and torrefied in an extruder-type system. Particles of the Pinus sp. wood were torrefied at 200, 250, and 300 °C for six minutes and then compacted to produce pellets. The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of these pellets were evaluated and compared with standard ones. Torrefaction modified the pellets properties by increasing ash, fixed carbon, higher heating value, and the energy density, while reducing the volatile matter and equilibrium moisture content. The mechanical durability of the pellets was lower than that defined by the European, German, and American standards. The torrefaction pre-compaction route with torrefied particles at a temperature of 300 °C was the most efficient for energetic use, compared to the in natura biomass. The latter has negative aspects such as great variation in size (length and diameter) and density besides high moisture content.
The adoption of dense plantations can reduce the drying time of the logs, by optimizing this step. This study evaluated the drying of eucalyptus wood from plantations with different spacing (3 × 4; 3 × 3; 2 × 3; 1 × 3 m). Five trees were selected per treatment. Logs were removed from the base and at 50% and 100% of commercial height for drying evaluation for 60 days. The diameters of the eucalyptus trees from plantations with wider spacing were bigger, and the productivity per hectare was not affected by the spacing between trees. The planting spacing did not affect the initial moisture, which was higher for those removed from the top of the trees. The logs from the base from the denser spacing showed a drying rate 2.5 times higher than the same logs from the treatment with greater spacing, reducing the final moisture from 37.2 to 18.8%. The logs removed from the top of the trees reached the equilibrium moisture after the drying period. The reduction in the planting spacing reduced the wood moisture and the difference in this parameter between the logs removed from the base and top of the eucalyptus trunks.
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