Different Pellet Mixtures Obtained from Spent Coffee Grounds: Energetic Characterization

Abstract

Studying the best practices to reuse wastes of widely used commercial products will allows to give alternatives to linear and shortsighted production chains that engender a large amount of wastes. The pellet mixtures full energy characterization permits to find new energetic classification patterns and identify differences between many biomasses, improving energy production processes. In this present work, energetic characteristics of agro-pellets, produced from pure spent coffee grounds (SCGs) or blended with sawdust were examined. Hence, thermal and chemical properties such as calorific value, ash content, and elemental analysis obtained from blend and pure biomasses were firstly examined. It was found that, despite its high LHV, ashes and nitrogen contents strongly exceed the usual values observed in common woody pellet. From a practical perspective, it should be mentioned that further combustion trials are planned, with the aim to investigate, in greater detail, the physical and chemical emissions characterization. This aspect will be deepened in future research activities.