Journal of Renewable ARTICLE scitation.

org/journal/rse
and Sustainable Energy

TABLE IV. Composition and selected parameters of corn cobs used for pelletizing þ P þ K)/(Mg þ Ca þ Al) should be a better predictor of ash melting
experiments (DB—dry basis). behavior with Al-silicate based additives.52,53
Parameter Corn cob Kaolin MgO III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
wt. %DB Results are organized according to the specific goals (Sec. I).
After presenting the results of feedstock analysis, mean values of pellet
C 48.88
properties are compared with the requirements of the international
H 7.77 1.56
standard for non-woody pellets, for both series, respectively. Results of
N 0.11 the statistical analysis of experimental data are afterwards shown and
S 0.11 discussed, for both pelletizing series, respectively. In the second part of
O 40.23 55.81 39.70 the investigation, the results from different pre-evaluation test meth-
K 0.77 ods for ash melting behavior are presented, compared, and discussed.
Na 0.01
P 0.02 A. Feedstock analysis
Mg 0.02 60.30 The increased contents of N, K, and Cl in the herbaceous feed-
Ca 0.02 stock are results of fertilization (Table IV). The composition of herba-
Al <0.01 20.94 ceous biomass is known to be inhomogeneous and can vary
Cl 0.37 depending on the climatic conditions, soil quality, fertilizer use, culti-
Si 0.06 21.70 vation practices, harvesting techniques, etc. Crop residues are known
Moisture 9.1 to be often contaminated with impurities such as soil particles, which
Ash 2.1 further hinder energetic utilization.54 However, even with certain var-
mg/kgDB iations, it is expected that corn cobs can meet the requirements of the
Zn 14 standard. Composition of corn cobs is consistent with previous
Cu 4.70 findings.55–57
Cr <0.5
Cd <0.2 B. Pellet properties and statistical analysis
kg/m3 Experimental data on response variables mechanical durability
Bulk density 428 and bulk density can be found in Appendix A. Contents of N and S
are calculated based on elementary composition of materials. Results
are compared with the requirements of the DIN EN ISO 17225-6
standard.
3. Fuel indices
Fuel indices empirically developed for coal combustion can be 1. Physico-mechanical properties of pellets from series
used adjusted and/or combined with phase diagrams to explain the 1 (with additives)
behavior of wide range of inhomogeneous biomass fuels.49–51 Selected Table V summarizes the selected pellet properties from the series
fuel indices, molar (Si þ P þ K)/(Mg þ Ca þ Al) and molar Si/K ratio, 1 in comparison with the requirements from DIN EN ISO 17225-6
were calculated based on the elementary composition of the fuel and (n ¼ 2). All pellet properties with the exception of mechanical durabil-
their applicability for the pre-evaluation of corn cob pellet ash melting ity are in accordance with the requirements. The durability threshold
behavior with and without additives analyzed. Molar ratio (Si according to the standard is 97.5 wt. % for class A pellets and

TABLE V. Summary of pellet properties from series 1 of pelletizing experiments and requirements of ISO 17225-6.

Ash content Moisture content LHV Durability Bulk density N contenta S contenta
wt. % wt. % MJ/kgar wt. % kg/m3 wt. %d.b. wt. %d.b.

CCPb 4.39 6 3.73 9.1 6 0.55 14.89 6 0.57 97 6 0.52 685.92 6 3.49 0.1057 0.1057
CCP 1MGO 4.64 6 3.8 11.9 6 1.73 14.98 6 0.68 97.85 6 0.68 633.56 6 4.38 0.1036 0.1036
CCP 2MGO 9.61 6 4.44 9.64 6 2.03 14.52 6 0.53 97.7 6 0.26 695.97 6 24.15 0.1036 0.1036
CCP 1KAO 3.93 6 1.96 10.9 6 1.29 15 6 0.16 97.55 6 1.04 662.42 6 29.52 0.1036 0.1036
CCP 2KAO 11.38 6 3.05 8.72 6 1.49 14.85 6 0.61 97.4 6 0.85 702.01 6 51.25 0.1036 0.1036
CLASS A 6 12 14.5 97.5 600 1.5 0.2
CLASS B 10 15 14.5 96 600 2.0 0.3
a
Calculated values based on the composition of corn cobs and additives, separately.
b
For the full list of abbreviations see Table II.

J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 13, 033101 (2021); doi: 10.1063/5.0044971 13, 033101-4
# 2021 Author(s).