Sustainable Growth through Garden Waste Pelletization

Abstract

Objectives: In metropolitan regions, management of solid wastes continues to be the main challenge. One of them is garden waste management. Garden waste generated in cities is either recycled into fertilizers or dumped on landfills, polluting the land. This study intends to discover sustainable waste management options for garden waste and to achieve a shift in energy from petroleum to renewable sources such as biomass, which can minimize emission of contaminants in the atmosphere. Methods: The pelletization method of managing garden waste was examined in this study. The garden waste including Palm, Jackfruit, and Ashoka leaves was collected separately from the college yard. Pelletization of these leaves was carried out after pretreatment and pulverization. The mechanical, physiochemical, and thermal characteristics of pellets were studied using several analytical techniques such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), proximate analysis, Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Findings: The calorific value for pellets made from palm, Jackfruit, and Ashoka leaves was 3414.46 kcal/kg, 3304.02 kcal/kg, and 3833.88 kcal/kg, respectively. These values are reminiscent to those for sub-bituminous coal, lignite, and peat. Additionally, the very low levels of nitrogen and sulphur indicate a lower threat of contaminants in the air. Pellets have an over 90 percent impact resistance and durability , thus signifies resistance to damage and are simple to handle, store, and transport. The results of analyses indicate that pellets made from palm, jackfruit, and Ashoka leaves can be bonded strongly and display the appropriate thermochemical behavior to be used as biofuels. Novelty and applications: The pelleting of specifically Palm, Jackfruit, and Ashoka leaves has not been explored for biofuel use. The pellets generated can be used in boilers, reactors, and other combustion units along with coal to generate revenue and reduce air pollution to some extent.