Qualitative Characterization of the Pellet Obtained from Hazelnut and Olive Tree Pruning

Abstract

Biomass occupies a very important place among renewable energy sources, and the residual biomass recovery chain represents a sector of fundamental importance. Our work focused on the production of pellets by pruning residues from two of the most important woody crops in Italy: hazelnut and olive groves. We found a higher value of bulk density for the hazelnut pellet (581.30 kg m−3 vs. 562.38 kg m−3) and a higher value of length for the olive pellet (16.66 mm vs. 10.47 mm). The percentages of durability were very similar (98%). The low heating value and ash content of hazelnut and olive were 17.21 MJ kg−1 and 3.1%, and 16.83 MJ kg−1 and 2.5%. A higher concentration of Cu, Pb, and Ni was observed in the hazelnut. The contrary was observed for the concentration of Zn. N content was 0.77% and 1.24% for the hazelnut and the olive, respectively. The concentration of S was 0.00% for both. The quality parameters that do not meet current standards could be improved by mixing these materials with different types of wood.