Valorization of Vine Tendrils Resulted from Pruning as Densified Solid Biomass Fuel (Briquettes)

Abstract

Concerns over the past few decades have focused, more than ever, on finding and implementing efficient, handy, and renewable sources to reduce pollution. Biomass, in general, and biomass from annual vine cuttings, are renewable sources that can be used by a large amount of the population. Biomass densification in the form of briquettes is an efficient method of obtaining a biofuel with the same characteristics as wood. The production of densified material as a briquette consists of sampling, drying naturally, chopping, grinding and briquetting the vine cuttings. The obtained results showed that the size of the briquettes met the requirements imposed by the standard, with a length between 185 mm and 400 mm and a diameter of 58 ± 0.75 mm, the humidity of the briquettes varying between 5.42%, at Sauvignon Blanc and 7.98% for Pinot Noir, while the durability of the briquettes registered minimum values of 98.17% for Muscat Ottonel and a maximum of 99.14% for Feteasca Neagra, and a unit density with values between 1227 kg/m3 for Feteasca Alba and 1389 kg/m3 for Pinot Noir. The conclusions of these experiments are promising, showing that the densification of biomass from vines cuttings qualifies within the standard requirements for obtaining a valuable biofuel.

Characterization of Biobriquettes Produced from Vineyard Wastes as a Solid Biofuel Resource

“…The present paper presents a solution for producing high-quality briquettes from vine shoot waste. The results regarding vineyard pruning valorization were already published, presenting bioethanol production from cellulose extracted from vineyard waste after autohydrolysis and delignification pretreatment [28], pellets production [29], and a preliminary study of briquettes production from vine tendrils [26]. In this regard, this study aims to continue the chemical investigation, structural characterization, and combustion experiments of briquettes obtained from several Romanian vineyard varieties.…”

“…Our previous publication reports the methods used for briquettes production from vineyard wastes, but intensive studies about chemical structural and combustion products are needed [26]. The most important quality parameters are durability and stability.…”

Technical and Economic Analysis of the Implementation of a Self-Sustainable Briquetting Process for Electric Generation

“…Besides handling and storage limitations, according to Muniz [6], the use of wood residue in the generation of heat energy, without receiving prior processing or preparation, becomes inefficient due to moisture content, which can often harm the combustion capacity. Raw biomass tends to absorb moisture from the environment due to its fibrous structure, and the presence of hydroxyl groups on polysaccharides [7,8], part of the heat generated during burning is consumed by the evaporation of the absorbed water [2]. Different studies recommend a moisture content between 5% and 12%, depending on the nature of biomass [8].…”

“…Raw biomass tends to absorb moisture from the environment due to its fibrous structure, and the presence of hydroxyl groups on polysaccharides [7,8], part of the heat generated during burning is consumed by the evaporation of the absorbed water [2]. Different studies recommend a moisture content between 5% and 12%, depending on the nature of biomass [8].…”

“…By Tenu [8], due to the concerns of greenhouse gas emissions and air and soil pollution from biomass combustion, it is worth considering the use of briquettes, as they may increase the heating value by 2-5% through torrefaction before briquetting [8,10]. This indicates that the use of briquettes to replace the wood in heat energy generation minimizes the negative environmental impacts, reducing the emission of pollutants into the air by up to 50% and minimizes the need for deforestation [6].…”