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Espuelas Zuazu, Sandra

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https://academica-e.unavarra.es/handle/2454/48978

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Espuelas Zuazu

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Sandra

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Ingeniería

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0000-0003-1223-515X

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811351

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2020 - 20212
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Subject: Biomass fuel ×

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Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Valorization of insulation cellulose waste as solid biomass fuel
    (MDPI, 2021) Espuelas Zuazu, Sandra; Marcelino Sádaba, Sara; García, Beñat; Seco Meneses, Andrés; Del Castillo García, Jesús María; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
    This paper investigates the ability of insulation cellulose fiber powder (CFP) to be pelletized for its valorization as biomass fuel. CFP is a waste originating from insulation cellulose manufacturing that lacks any method of valorization because of its boron salts content. A sugar byproduct and lignosulfonate (LS) were considered as binders for the pellet manufacturing process. Physical tests were carried out to characterize the pellets’ performance. Chemical and combustion tests were considered to state the pellets’ potential as a green energy source. Raw CFP showed good ability in its pelletization and durability in the range of 15–30% of moisture content. The pellet’s density decreased as water content increased. Binders increased the pellet’s length before and after the durability test. Binders also increased the CFP pellet’s water absorption, demonstrating a potential decrease in durability against environmental factors. Binders also decreased the lower heating value. Ultimate analysis showed a slight Nitrogen increase in both binder combinations that could potentially raise the pollutant NOx combustion emissions. All the combinations showed adequate combustion characteristics, but binders increased ash production. Additives decreased the CFP volatile matter content and increased the fixed carbon, which could facilitate a more stable combustion. DTA curves showed a mass loss rate decrease in the volatile stage for the binder combinations, which also could be considered as an indicator of a more stable combustion. The ashes’ chemical compositions when analyzed by XPS showed boron contents oscillating between 10.03% and 16.42%, demonstrating the possibility of recovering them from the combustion ashes.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Low energy spent coffee grounds briquetting with organic binders for biomass fuel manufacturing
    (Elsevier, 2020) Espuelas Zuazu, Sandra; Marcelino Sádaba, Sara; Echeverria Lazcano, Angel María; Seco Meneses, Andrés; Del Castillo García, Jesús María; Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
    This paper analyzes the ability of the spent coffee grounds (SCG) for briquettes production with xanthan and guar gums as binders. Briquettes were manufactured at room temperature, at 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of moisture, at 8 MPa, 10 MPa and 12 MPa of compaction pressure and at 5 and 10% of binder dosage. Combination of 10% of xanthan, 15% of moisture, at 12 MPa, reached the highest dry density, 0.819 g/cm3. The combination of 5% of xanthan, 30% of moisture, compacted at 12 MPa was the most durable with a loss of mass of 3.9%. No relationships were established among water absorption and binder type, binder dosage, manufacturing moisture or compaction pressure. The lowest water absorption value, 0.25%, corresponded to the combination with 5% of xanthan, 30% of moisture, compacted at 10 MPa. The lowest heating value achieved by SCG was 25,399 J/g. Guar 5% and 10% combinations achieved 24,398 J/g and 24,321 J/g respectively. Xanthan gum 5% and 10% dosages attained 24,450 and 23,503 J/g. Binder decreased volatiles, increased fixed carbon content and decreased nitrogen content. Guar gum decreased SCG nitrogen content by 15.92% for the 5% and by 16.92% for the 10% dosage combinations, respectively. Xanthan nitrogen reduction attained 13.43% for the 5% and 14.43% for the 10% of dosage. The raw SCG ash production was 0.66%. This value increased to 0.81% and 0.97% with 5% and 10% of xanthan gum, meanwhile guar decreased it to 0.57% and 0.52%, at 5% and 10% of dosage.