Sustainable Solid Biofuel Production from Coffee Byproducts: Characterization and Pelletization of Husk and Parchment
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, resulting in the production of 1 kg of husk and 0.5 kg of parchment for every 1 kg of coffee beans. Given the large amount of biomass and the constant need for energy production, this study raises the possibility of using waste for pellet production. Samples of coffee husks and parchment were characterized by moisture content (dry basis), proximate analysis (volatile matter, ash and fixed carbon), calorific value, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetry, and the pellets were characterized by moisture content (dry basis), bulk density, energy density, mechanical durability, percentage of fines, and hardness. The results were compared with the ISO 17225-6. The parchment had a higher carbon, 49.5%, C/N 45.1%, and lignin 26.2% and lower ashes 2.8% and extractives 14.2%, resulting in higher calorific value, while coffee husks obtained 46.5%, 26.3%, 24.6%, 5.5%, and 34.3%, respectively. Pellets produced with parchment had a higher density 622 kg/m3 and lower moisture content 10.5%, resulting in higher energy density. The parchment pellets met all the parameters of the ISO 17225-6, while the coffee husk pellets did not meet the parameters for moisture, which is less than 15%, and bulk density, greather than 600 kg/m3. Both types of biomass showed potential for pellet production, with further studies needed on coffee husks.
Source: Resources
Authors: Shoraia Germani Winter, Antonio José Vinha Zanuncio, Amélia Guimarães Carvalho, Marcos Vinícius Ferreira, Olivia Pereira Lopes, Angélica de Cassia Oliveira Carneiro, Solange de Oliveira Araújo
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,930
Awards: INTEGRAÇÃO DE PROCESSOS TERMOQUÍMICOS E MECÂNICOS PARA CONVERSÃO ENERGÉTICA DE RESÍDUOS AGROINDUSTRIAIS E FLORESTAIS PARA DIVERSIFICAÇÃO DO AGRONEGÓCIO DE MINAS GERAIS, DESENVOLVIMENTO DE BIOCARVÕES NETZERO DE RESÍDUOS AGROFLORESTAIS PARA APLICAÇÕES EM SOLOS E GERAÇÃO DE ENERGIA PARA SUSTENTABILIDADE DO AGRONEGÓCIO MINEIRO, POTENCIAL DA UTILIZAÇÃO DA PALHA DE CAFÉ PARA A PRODUÇÃO DE PELLETS NO CONTEXTO DA ECONOMIA CIRCULAR E DE BAIXO CARBONO
OpenAlex ID: W7114923461