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A preliminary experimental feasibility case study of energy upgrade of pellets of lignite and plastic waste mixtures
Author(s) -
Lasithiotakis Michael,
Zoumboulakis Loukas,
Soulis Spyridon,
Simitzis Johannis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental quality management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.249
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6483
pISSN - 1088-1913
DOI - 10.1002/tqem.21670
Subject(s) - pellets , pelletizing , heat of combustion , polypropylene , pyrolysis , materials science , curing (chemistry) , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , raw material , composite material , pulp and paper industry , waste management , chemical engineering , chemistry , combustion , organic chemistry , engineering
The calorific value enhancement of lignite by briquetting with novolac resin and plastic wastes is discussed in this work. Mixtures of several types of lignite with novolac as binder, with or without polypropylene, were manufactured in the form of pellets by curing. Pellets were pyrolyzed at 300°C and 500°C, and weight losses were determined. Chemical transformations during curing were studied by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and the corresponding changes in the microstructure of the pellets were investigated by optical microscopy. Specimens of cured pellets were tested for their impact resistance index (IRI) and water resistance index (WRI). The incorporation of polypropylene in the pellets leads to an increase of IRI and a decrease of WRI. The calorific value was measured for both cured and pyrolyzed pellets. All pellets exhibit increased lower calorific value compared with raw lignite, indicating an upgrade of their energy content.