Screening and Testing of Anti-Slagging Agents for Tobacco-Stalk-Based Biomass Pellet Fuel for Tobacco Curing

Abstract

Using tobacco stalks as a biomass fuel for flue-cured tobacco production creates a closed, green production cycle. Tobacco stalks are rich in cellulose and can be crushed to produce biomass pellet fuel (BPF). However, single flue-cured tobacco stalk (FCTs) BPF can easily slag during flue-cured tobacco heating (FTH), which affects the operation of biomass burners. In this study, five anti-slagging agents (ASAs), one organic (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC) and four inorganic (kaolin, KLN; diatomite earth, DTE; calcium carbonate, CCO; and calcium dihydrogen phosphate, CHO)], were compared. An ash fusibility test was conducted in two steps to optimize the proportion and treatments that were then screened using FTH. Compared with pure FCT-based BPFs, the slag resistance of 2% CCO and CHO could be controlled below 15%. The emission of particulate matter from chimneys burning BPF with 2% CCO was lower than that with other ASAs. The ASAs achieved complete combustion with low carbon monoxide content in the tail gas. Considering the anti-slagging effect and economic cost, 2% CCO was the best additive for the biomass burner. These results provide a reference for FCT-based BPF production.