Development and Performance of Wood Waste Briquettes in Pyrolysis Reactor

In the present scenario, fossil fuel-based energy comprising oil, coal and natural gas is the main source of global energy. It is leading to many environmental issues like global warming, acid rain and urban smog. Moreover, this fossil fuel is non-renewable and anticipated to be depleting in the next 4–5 decades. Wood-based energy generation is one of the oldest energy sources, and consist of many advantageous characteristics. In this review, the briquette manufacturing technology from waste wood through different processes is discussed. Huge amount of wood-based biomass produced every year throughout the world, in the form of used furniture, temporary houses and industrial waste is a liability to municipal departments of the cities and generally used as a landfill. Such wood waste can be potentially utilized for briquette manufacturing. The wood waste type, amount and availability are varying in different countries depending on domestic and industrial practices. Since the briquette is a product of wood, the product quality is dependent on the raw material characteristics like density, moisture and calorific properties of wood. Other factors like impurities in waste wood and the addition of binding material in briquette manufacturing determine the economics and market value of the briquette. The quality of the briquette is assessed on the basis of product density and calorific value. Different manufacturing technology is being practised based on the size, the moisture content in raw material and the adhesive used. The briquettes are generally burnet in a pyrolysis reactor that requires lower heating temperature, and equipment investment, however, produce high energy and different by-products like bio-oil, biochar and pyrolysis gas which is used in further heating. Therefore, wood waste briquetting is not only a good substitution for energy sources but a genuine disposal of waste material.