Enhancing Fuel Pellet Performance from Agricultural Biomass: Effects of LLDPE Additive, Die Temperature, and Diameter on Properties

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Aburaihan Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Business Administration, University of Europe for Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany

10.22103/bbr.2026.26165.1138

Abstract

Among the various forms of biomass, agricultural residues represent a promising feedstock for biofuel production, particularly in the form of fuel pellets. These pellets have the potential to mitigate the global fuel shortage; however, they often exhibit suboptimal physical and mechanical properties. In this study, we explore the feasibility of utilizing low-density linear polyethylene (LLDPE) waste as a binder to enhance the quality of fuel pellets produced from agricultural residues. Fuel pellets were manufactured using a single-pellet press from shredded straw and dried grass, with varying proportions of plastic additive. The experimental design incorporated two die diameters (8 mm and 10 mm), three die temperatures (80°C, 120°C, and 160°C), and three levels of LLDPE additive (0%, 15%, and 25% by weight). Each combination was tested in triplicate using a completely randomized factorial design. Key performance indicators such as density, toughness, water retention capacity, moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon percentage, and heating value were assessed. Microstructural analysis of pellet composition was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to further understand the impact of the LLDPE additive on pellet morphology. The heating value of the pellets ranged from average of 15.86 MJ/kg to 22.32 MJ/kg, and there was a positive correlation between density and temperature. Pellet density varied between average of 510 kg/m³ and 903 kg/m³, indicating substantial improvements with the inclusion of the LLDPE additive.

Keywords

References

Arora, N. K., & Mishra, I. (2019). United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and environmental sustainability: race against time. Environmental Sustainability, 2(4), 339–342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-019-00092-y
Arshadi, M., Gref, R., Geladi, P., Dahlqvist, S.-A., & Lestander, T. (2008). The influence of raw material characteristics on the industrial pelletizing process and pellet quality. Fuel processing technology, 89(12), 1442–1447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2008.07.001
Bilandzija, N., Voca, N., Jelcic, B., Jurisic, V., Matin, A., Grubor, M., & Kricka, T. (2018). Evaluation of Croatian agricultural solid biomass energy potential. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 93, 225–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.05.040
Cao, L., Yuan, X., Li, H., Li, C., Xiao, Z., Jiang, L., Huang, B., Xiao, Z., Chen, X., & Wang, H. (2015). Complementary effects of torrefaction and co-pelletization: Energy consumption and characteristics of pellets. Bioresource technology, 185, 254–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.02.045
Cheng, J., Zhou, F., Si, T., Zhou, J., & Cen, K. (2018). Mechanical strength and combustion properties of biomass pellets prepared with coal tar residue as a binder. Fuel processing technology, 179, 229–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2018.07.011
Cui, X., Yang, J., Shi, X., Lei, W., Huang, T., & Bai, C. (2019). Experimental investigation on the energy consumption, physical, and thermal properties of a novel pellet fuel made from wood residues with microalgae as a binder. Energies, 12(18), 3425. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12183425
Du, S.-W., Chen, W.-H., & Lucas, J. A. (2014). Pretreatment of biomass by torrefaction and carbonization for coal blend used in pulverized coal injection. Bioresource technology, 161, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.090
Duque-Acevedo, M., Belmonte-Ureña, L. J., Cortés-García, F. J., & Camacho-Ferre, F. (2020). Agricultural waste: Review of the evolution, approaches and perspectives on alternative uses. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, e00902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00902
Emadi, B., Iroba, K. L., & Tabil, L. G. (2017). Effect of polymer plastic binder on mechanical, storage and combustion characteristics of torrefied and pelletized herbaceous biomass. Applied Energy, 198, 312–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.12.027
Forero-Nuñez, C. A., Jochum, J., & Sierra, F. (2015). Effect of particle size and addition of cocoa pod husk on the properties of sawdust and coal pellets. Ingeniería e Investigación, 35(1), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.v35n1.46157
Garcia-Maraver, A., Rodriguez, M., Serrano-Bernardo, F., Diaz, L., & Zamorano, M. (2015). Factors affecting the quality of pellets made from residual biomass of olive trees. Fuel processing technology, 129, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2014.08.018
Gilbert, P., Ryu, C., Sharifi, V., & Swithenbank, J. (2009). Effect of process parameters on pelletisation of herbaceous crops. Fuel, 88(8), 1491–1497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2009.03.015
Gillespie, G. D., Everard, C. D., Fagan, C. C., & McDonnell, K. P. (2013). Prediction of quality parameters of biomass pellets from proximate and ultimate analysis. Fuel, 111, 771–777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.05.002
Gug, J., Cacciola, D., & Sobkowicz, M. J. (2015). Processing and properties of a solid energy fuel from municipal solid waste (MSW) and recycled plastics. waste management, 35, 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.09.031
Jamradloedluk, J., & Lertsatitthanakorn, C. (2017). Influences of mixing ratios and binder types on properties of biomass pellets. Energy Procedia, 138, 1147–1152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.10.223
Jiang, L., Yuan, X., Xiao, Z., Liang, J., Li, H., Cao, L., Wang, H., Chen, X., & Zeng, G. (2016). A comparative study of biomass pellet and biomass-sludge mixed pellet: Energy input and pellet properties. Energy Conversion and Management, 126, 509–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.08.035
Kaliyan, N., & Morey, R. V. (2009). Factors affecting strength and durability of densified biomass products. Biomass and bioenergy, 33(3), 337–359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.08.005
Kaliyan, N., & Morey, R. V. (2010). Natural binders and solid bridge type binding mechanisms in briquettes and pellets made from corn stover and switchgrass. Bioresource technology, 101(3), 1082–1090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.064
Kaltschmitt, M., Streicher, W., & Wiese, A. (2007). Renewable energy: technology, economics and environment. Springer Science & Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-70949-5
Kim, S.-h., Yang, I., & Han, G.-S. (2015). Effect of sawdust moisture content and particle size on the fuel characteristics of wood pellet fabricated with Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora and Larix kaempferi sawdust. Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology, 43(6), 757–767. https://doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2015.43.6.757
Kong, L., Tian, S., He, C., Du, C., Tu, Y., & Xiong, Y. (2012). Effect of waste wrapping paper fiber as a “solid bridge” on physical characteristics of biomass pellets made from wood sawdust. Applied Energy, 98, 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.02.068
Li, H., Liu, X., Legros, R., Bi, X. T., Lim, C. J., & Sokhansanj, S. (2012). Pelletization of torrefied sawdust and properties of torrefied pellets. Applied Energy, 93, 680–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.01.002
Lisowski, A., Pajor, M., Świętochowski, A., Dąbrowska, M., Klonowski, J., Mieszkalski, L., Ekielski, A., Stasiak, M., & Piątek, M. (2019). Effects of moisture content, temperature, and die thickness on the compaction process, and the density and strength of walnut shell pellets. Renewable Energy, 141, 770–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.050
Liu, Z., Fei, B., Jiang, Z., Cai, Z., & Yu, Y. (2013). The properties of pellets from mixing bamboo and rice straw. Renewable Energy, 55, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.12.014
Minelgaitė, A., & Liobikienė, G. (2019). Waste problem in European Union and its influence on waste management behaviours. Science of the Total Environment, 667, 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.313
Montgomery, W. (1978). Standard laboratory test methods for coal and coke. Analytical methods for coal and coal products, 1, 194–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-399901-6.50012-8
Mostafa, M. E., Hu, S., Wang, Y., Su, S., Hu, X., Elsayed, S. A., & Xiang, J. (2019). The significance of pelletization operating conditions: An analysis of physical and mechanical characteristics as well as energy consumption of biomass pellets. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 105, 332–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.01.053
Nasiri, S., Hajinezhad, A., & Kianmehr, M. H. (2023). Increasing the efficiency of municipal solid waste energy by investigating the effect of die temperature and retention time on the produced pellets: a case study of Kahrizak, Iran. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 173, 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.03.016
Nasiri, S., Hajinezhad, A., Kianmehr, M. H., & Tajik, S. (2023). Enhancing municipal solid waste efficiency through Refuse Derived Fuel pellets: Additive analysis, die retention time, and temperature impact. Energy Reports, 10, 941–957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.07.039
Nidhi, C., Sharma, B., & Singh, P. K. (2017). Energy value in biomass and plastic components of municipal solid waste. MATTER: International Journal of Science and Technology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.20319/mijst.2017.32.8092
Oduntan, O., & Koya, O. (2015). Effect of speed, die sizes and moisture contents on resin. Research of Agricultural Engineering, 61, 1262-1270.‏
Pang, X., Trubins, R., Lekavicius, V., Galinis, A., Mozgeris, G., Kulbokas, G., & Mörtberg, U. (2019). Forest bioenergy feedstock in Lithuania–renewable energy goals and the use of forest resources. Energy strategy reviews, 24, 244–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2019.04.004
Poddar, S., Kamruzzaman, M., Sujan, S., Hossain, M., Jamal, M., Gafur, M., & Khanam, M. (2014). Effect of compression pressure on lignocellulosic biomass pellet to improve fuel properties: Higher heating value. Fuel, 131, 43–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2014.04.061
Ramezanzade, M., & Ghazanfari Moghaddam, A. (2018). Optimizing the production parameters for pellets made from pistachio tree pruning using multi-response optimization. Waste and biomass valorization, 9, 1213–1221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-017-9840-1
Rezaei, H., Yazdanpanah, F., Lim, C. J., & Sokhansanj, S. (2020). Pelletization properties of refuse-derived fuel-Effects of particle size and moisture content. Fuel processing technology, 205, 106437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2020.106437
Said, N., García-Maraver, A., & Zamorano, M. (2015). Influence of densification parameters on quality properties of rice straw pellets. Fuel processing technology, 138, 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2015.05.011
Shoaei, M., Hajinezhad, A., & Moosavian, S. F. (2023). Design, energy, exergy, economy, and environment (4E) analysis, and multi-objective optimization of a novel integrated energy system based on solar and geothermal resources. Energy, 280, 128162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.128162
Stelte, W., Clemons, C., Holm, J. K., Ahrenfeldt, J., Henriksen, U. B., & Sanadi, A. R. (2012). Fuel pellets from wheat straw: The effect of lignin glass transition and surface waxes on pelletizing properties. Bioenergy research, 5, 450–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-011-9169-8
Stelte, W., Holm, J. K., Sanadi, A. R., Barsberg, S., Ahrenfeldt, J., & Henriksen, U. B. (2011). A study of bonding and failure mechanisms in fuel pellets from different biomass resources. Biomass and bioenergy, 35(2), 910–918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.11.003
Taghizadeh-Alisaraei, A., Hosseini, S. H., Ghobadian, B., & Motevali, A. (2017). Biofuel production from citrus wastes: A feasibility study in Iran. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 69, 1100–1112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.102
Tarasov, D., Shahi, C., & Leitch, M. (2013). Effect of additives on wood pellet physical and thermal characteristics: A review. International Scholarly Research Notices, 2013(1), 876939. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/876939
Tumuluru, J. S. (2018). Effect of pellet die diameter on density and durability of pellets made from high moisture woody and herbaceous biomass. Carbon Resources Conversion, 1(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crcon.2018.06.002
Warajanont, S., & Soponpongpipat, N. (2013). Effect of particle size and moisture content on cassava root pellet fuel’s qualities follow the acceptance of pellet fuel standard. parameters, 3, 7–17. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijrse.20130202.17
Wei, Z., Cheng, Z., & Shen, Y. (2024). Recent development in production of pellet fuels from biomass and polyethylene (PE) wastes. Fuel, 358, 130222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130222
 
Biomechanism and Bioenergy Research
Volume 5, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 1-17

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 26 May 2026

Share

How to cite

Statistics