Pellets

Color of wood pellets is mainly affected by the feedstock material used for their production and which composition and characteristic affect the final product quality. Pellets made from pure wood are light in color and have low ash content, while pellets made from different mixtures of wood and bark or foliage are generally darker and richer in minerals. This study aims to verify the correlation between color and quality parameters of wood pellets available on the Italian market. All the samples were analyzed following the procedures laid down by the European Norms (EN) on solid biofuels for moisture, ash, calorific value, durability, bulk and solid density. The acquisition of the images was done with two techniques: the CIE L∗a∗b∗ color space and RGB-HSV color spaces. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was performed with CIE-L∗a∗b, RGB and HSV separately showing for all the color components good degree of correlation with ash content of pellets. The PCA analysis on two principal components (total explained variance: 64.2%) showed a clear color gradient moving form good to medium or low quality parameters. This pattern is confirmed by the clustering of certified pellets in the region of lightest samples. The calculation of ΔE and ΔRGB showed a good discrimination level between whole pellets samples and their sawdust, and between ones with high and low ash content. The visual predictability of pellets quality on the basis of their color is however not so sharp when considering samples with similar colors. The industrial applicability of such methods for the evaluation of pellets quality is desirable for RGB methodologies that are less expensive and more reliable in working condition, given that specific color calibration is performed.

In this study, Co-HTC of food waste with yard waste was conducted for biofuel pellets production, and also to understand any possible synergy between two feedstock types. The calorific value of blended raw feedstock was 13.5 MJ/kg which increased to 27.6 MJ/kg after Co-HTC at 220°C for 1 h. Energy yield and fuel ratio calculated was 45% and 0.65 respectively. Hydrochar produced demonstrated a stable combustion profile as compared to reactive combustion profile for raw samples. The blend of food and yard waste hydrochar was easily pelletized, and its pellets showed improvement in mechanical properties as compared to pellets made from mono-substrate((food waste) hydrochar. Pellets produced from the blend of food and yard waste hydrochar showed higher energy (46.4 MJ/m 3) and mass density (1679 kg/m 3) as compare to the pellet produced from food waste hydrochar alone. Tensile strength obtained for the blended hydrochar pellet was 2.64 MPa while same for the pellets produced from food waste hydrochar alone was 1.30 MPa. In addition to improving hydrophobicity, soften lignin from yard waste also helped in binding the food waste hydrochar particles together within the pellets matrix during heated pelletiza-tion. The results presented in the study indicated that in the presence of all favorable conditions, there is a potential that approximately 11% of the global coal consumption could be replaced by the combustion of hydrochar produced from food and yard waste globally.

Resumen
Los biocombustibles, demandan procesos de caracterización y transformación confiables que aseguren su adecuado proceso de fabricación para que los usuarios finales los utilicen sin riesgo alguno. Alrededor del 4,42% de los biocombustibles que se comercializan a nivel mundial se presentan como aglomerados o pellets. Teniendo en cuenta que Colombia es un país con altas reservas de carbón y que como país agrícola produce grandes cantidades de residuos orgánicos, se encontró que la mezcla de estos dos productos presenta beneficios desde el punto de vista energético y de combustión, facilitando su quema y disminuyendo emisiones tanto de material particulado como de gases con contenido de azufre. Se presentan los resultados de la caracterización según normas internacionales de pellets producidos en el Laboratorio de Energías Renovables de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia de mezclas 50/50 de carbón antracita y madera. La evaluación fisicoquímica se hizo aplicando parámetros de la norma Austriaca ONORM M7135, con el fin de evaluar cada uno de los ítems allí establecidos. Además, se dan a conocer los resultados de las pruebas y los análisis de la caracterización de estas mezclas, así como su poder calorífico según norma ASTM D5865 11a y su resistencia al impacto según norma ASTM D440-86. Adicionalmente se discuten las ventajas y desventajas desde el punto de vista ambiental que acarrea el uso de los biocombustibles aglomerados.

Abstract
Biofuels demand characterization and reliable processes to ensure proper  manufacturing process for end users in order to use them safely. About 4.42% of biofuels that are marketed globally are presented as agglomerates or pellets. Considering that Colombia is a country with high coal reserves and, as an agricultural country, produces large amounts of organic waste,  our results show that the mixture of these two products has benefits in terms of energy and combustion, facilitating burning and decreasing the emissions of both particulate material and sulfur-containing gases. This article presents the results of the characterization as international pellets produced in the Laboratory for Renewable Energy of the National University of Colombia for 50/50% mixture of wood and anthracite. The physicochemical parameters evaluation was made using the standard Austrian ONORM M7135, in order to evaluate each of the items established. Also test results and analysis of the characterization of these mixtures and their calorific value according to ASTM D5865 11a and the impact resistance according to ASTM D440-86 are shown. Additionally the advantages and disadvantages are discussed from an environmental point of view related to the use of biofuels agglomerates.

The use of conventional bentonite binder is favorable in terms of mechanical and metallurgical pellet properties, however, because of its acid constituents bentonite is considered as impurity especially for iron ores with high acidic content. Therefore, alternative binders to bentonite have been tested. Organic binders are the most studied binders and they yield pellets with good wet strength; they fail in terms of preheated and fired pellet strengths. This study was conducted to investigate how insufficient pellet strengths can be improved when organic binders are used as binder. The addition of a low-melting temperature and slag bonding/strength increasing constituent (free in acidic contents) into pellet feed was proposed. Addition of boron compounds such as colemanite, tincal, borax pentahydrate, boric acid together with organic binders such as CMC, starch, dextrin and some organic based binders, into iron oxide pellet was tested. Wet and thermally treated pellet physical-mechanical qualities (balling - moisture content - size - shape - drop number - compressive strengths - porosity - dustiness) were determined. The results showed that good quality wet, dry, preheated and fired pellets can be produced with combined binders (an organic binder plus a boron compound) when compared with bentonite-bonded pellets. While organic binders provided sufficient wet and dry pellet strengths, the boron compounds provided the required preheated and fired pellet strengths at even lower firing temperature. Especially, the contribution of boron compound addition is most pronounced for hematite pellets which do not have strengthening mechanism through oxidation like magnetite pellets during firing. Therefore, addition of boron compound is beneficial to recover the low physical-mechanical qualities of pellets produced with organic binders through slag bonding mechanism. Furthermore, lowering the firing temperature thanks to low-melting boron compounds will be cost-effective for firing part of the pelletizing plants.

This thesis promotes the use of sawdust, a sub product generated in the Peruvian timber industry, for the manufacturing of wood pellets. The used methodology was inductive. Field investigation and experiments were done based on the Peruvian and European technical specifications.
The problem is the reduced use of wood waste in the Peruvian timber industry. It was analyzed according to the information collected in places where waste is generated, the data was gotten from state agencies responsible for regulating the timber industry, and technical information of the product and its manufacturing process from the European market.
On the other hand, the hypothesis was confirmed; it means that the project is technically and economically feasible with a net present value of $488.503 and an internal rate of return of 16.41%.

There is a constantly growing need, from one hand to improve the socio-economic development of each region, including the tourist complexes, and from the other hand to make sure that future generations would be able to live on the planet, too, in friendly ecological environment. Perhaps you may read these ideas in many papers, which proves that these issues are already rather important, but also, that the mankind hasn’t done a significant progress to insure the sustainable development of the regional complexes.
There are already variety of eco-fuels, based on the renewable energy sources, like pellets, wood for heating, bio-diesel, etc., all of the made by biomass. These eco-fuels protect the nature and give a chance for our children to have their future when they grow up. It makes us (their parents), to undertake serious changes in our way of behavior “today” in order to guarantee a “tomorrow” for them.
Therefore, the main purpose of this report is to empower the awareness on the role of eco-pellets in the activity of the tourist infrastructure (hotels, restaurant, etc.) and thus tourist complexes to achieve results in two dimensions: (1) less energy dependency and (2) preserve the healthy nature for the children and future generations.
These two dimensions could be the factors, which would help a tourist complex to be more competitive to attract tourists. An important moment in the plenary report will be the role of educational system to form a "Mentality of action" instead of only "Mentality of awareness". Some of the here presented ideas could have the potential to initiate specific trainings.
I dedicate this report to the happy future of our grandchildren.
Keywords: tourism, competiveness, electricity, eco-pellets
JEL classification: A20, L83, O13, Q2, R11.

A B S T R A C T Extended drug delivery offers numerous benefits compared to immediate release dosage form. Membrane coating of immediate release dosage form is an effective means of producing an extended drug delivery system. Polymers when coated alone, have limited ability to form the rate controlling membrane with good mechanical properties. Addition of plasticizer is vital to the formation of a robust rate-controlling membrane. Plasticizers have the ability to interact with polymer chains, and provide desired flexibility, shock resistance, and smoothness to resultant system. In addition to the plasticizing effect they also play an important role in modulating drug release profiles. Selection of a plasticizer is critical for the stability of dosage form, the processing as well as in vivo performance. In this review article, various theoretical and practical methods for plasticizer selection have been discussed in detail and supported with the mechanism of action. Applications, where plasticizers are required in higher quantities, like dry coating, compression of coated pellets or required to form membrane to imbibe water i.e. osmotic drug delivery system are also discussed. Importantly, the selection criteria and quantity of plasticizer should also be considered from the regulatory perspective for an efficient drug product approval process.

Öz: Çalışmada, çay fabrikası artıkları katı yakıt olarak kullanılmak üzere peletlenmiştir. Öğütülmüş çay atıkları, %12.68 nem içeriğinde ve 0.62 mm geometrik ortalama çapında ve laboratuvar ölçekli 3 kW güçlü pelet makinesinde çevre şartlarında peletlenmiştir. Peletlerin kalitesi ile ilgili fiziksel özellikleri olarak hacim yoğunluğu, parça yoğunluğu, mekanik dayanıklılık direnci, darbe dayanım direnci, basınç direnci ve nem alma durumu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca çalışmada, pelet makinesinin kapasitesi ölçülmüştür. Fiziksel testler öncesinde peletler 7 gün süre ile 24 C sıcaklık ve %55 bağıl nem şartlarında bekletilmiştir. Çalışma sonunda, ortalama 6.1 mm çapında, 23.5 mm uzunluğunda ve kütlesi 0.8 g peletler elde edilmiştir. Çay peletlerinin hacim ve parça yoğunluğu 601 kg m-3 ve 1158 kg m-3 , mekanik dayanıklılık direnci %81 ve basınç direnci 476 N bulunmuştur. Peletlerin nem alma direnci ortam sıcaklığı ve nemine bağlı olarak değişmiştir. Peletler düşük sıcaklık ve bağıl nem koşullarında nem kaybetmiştir. Çay peletlerinin fiziksel testler sonucu sağlam yapıda olduğu görülmüştür. Pelet makinesinin kapasitesi 46 kg h-1 olarak bulunmuştur. Abstract: In this study, the tea factory wastes were pelleted for the utilization as a solid fuel. The moisture content and geometric mean diameter of ground tea wastes were 12.68% and 0.62 mm, respectively. A laboratory-scale pelleting machine with an electrical motor powers of 3 kW was used for pelleting of raw material. Physical properties related to pellet quality such as bulk density, particle density, durability, compressive resistance and moisture sorption of pellets were determined. Also, the average capacity of the pelleting machine was measured. The pellets were stored under ambient conditions of 24 °C temperature and 55% relative humidity during 7 days before testing. At the end of study, the average diameter, length and mass of the pellets were 6.1 mm, 23.5 mm and 0.8 g, respectively. The average bulk density, particle density, durability and compressive resistance of pellets were found as 601 kg m-3 , 1158 kg m-3 , 81% and 476 N, respectively. Moisture content of pellets were decreased at low temperature and relative humidity conditions. As a result, physical tests showed that produced pellets were strong. The average pellet production capacity of the pelleting machine was found to be 46 kg h-1 .

The study dealt with the design and technical evaluation of a pellet mill developed in the Philippines that utilizes the roll-type extrusion method of producing powder materials of different mixtures into pelleted feeds and driven by a 2 Hp electric motor. It is comprised of a feed hopper, pelleting chamber, pellet roll, die plate, discharge chute and frame. As the pellet rolls rotated, force is also applied creating rearrangement of the particles in order to fill the voids or holes of the die plate. The machine can produce 1.272±0.009 kg/min or about 76.32±0.54 kg/hr of pelletized feeds. It is an efficient, portable and user-friendly machine that can convert a kilo of mash feeds by 97.87±0.596%. The pellets produced have a 4-mm diameter with a length and weight of 10.667±0.667 mm and 0.138±0.005 g, respectively, while the moisture content after sundrying was 25.467±9.744% and the total solids was 74.533±9.744%. In addition, the pellets produced had a bulk density of 0.510±0.015 g/cc, pellet durability index of 95.77±0.596% and a percent fine of 1.8±0.115.

The increasing demand for biomass pellets requires the investigation of alternative raw materials for pelletiza-tion. In the present paper, the pelletization process of fescue, alfalfa, sorghum, triticale, miscanthus and willow is studied to determine if results obtained in a single pellet press (SPP) can be extrapolated to larger scale pellet mills. The single pellet press was used to find the optimum moisture content and die operating temperature for pellet production. Then, these results were compared with those obtained from a bench-scale pellet mill. A moisture content of around 10 wt.% was found to be optimal for the six biomass feedstocks. A friction increase was seen when the die temperature increased from room temperature to 60–90 °C for most biomass types, and then a friction decrease when the die temperature increased further. The results obtained in the bench-scale pellet mill support the proposed theory that good quality pellets and satisfactory pelletizing should occur in the region where the friction decreases with die temperature. Therefore, the friction vs. die temperature curve measured for each biomass in the SPP can be used as an indication of the right die temperature in large-scale pellet production.

Many European countries are developing the use of pellets or wood briquettes for the supplying of local energy. Many industries are being forced to replace fossil fuels with biomass because of its neutrality in relation to CO 2 emissions, thus creating an interesting market for pellets. In Portugal, the most common undergrowth includes: esteva (Cistus ladanifer), tojo (Ulex europaeus), giesta (Sarothamus scoparius), feto (Pteridium aquilium) and silva (Rubus ulmifolius). These undergrowth specimen are attractive due to the large volume available, but are not usually used for making pellets. It is possible to prevent large fires cleaning the forests, but this is an expensive task that could be compensated if the undergrowth can have some commercial value. The use of the common undergrowth for the manufacture of pellets and briquettes will allow the undergrowth to be considered not as a problem to be removed from the forest but an opportunity as renewable energy. The aim of this work is to obtain pellets with standard properties and evaluate the parameters that can qualify the performance of these pellets: moisture content, particle size distribution, high heating value, height of flame and burning time, pressure and temperature of the pelletizing process and mechanical durability. The pellet-izing process was first simulated on laboratorial scale using small amounts of each vegetal specimen which was pressed in a heated mould. Some samples were submitted to a torrefaction treatment. After the laboratorial screening, the selected material was processed using a pellet mill to prepare pellets with 6 mm of diameter. The durability test was performed using a tumbling device following the ASAE S 269.4 standard. Burning tests of pellets with the same weight were performed and video images analysed, where height of flame and ignition time were measured. It was found that undergrowth pellets had good power of agglomeration and allow an easy ignition. The apparent density varies around 1,260 kg/m 3. The moisture content of different pellet varied between 2.79 and 7.46 %, ash content was less than 3 %, the calorific value is between 16 and 18 kJ/kg, the durability results respect the values recommended by standards. After ignition the flame increases to an average height of 25 mm. The total burning time was in all cases dominated by the cinder combustion without visible flame and the total complete burning time varied between 400 and 600 s. The results showed that it is possible to produce pellets of undergrowth with physical and thermochemical characteristics similar to the existing in the market at the present time.

This study was started to find alternative binders to bentonite and to recover the low preheated and fired pellet mechanical strengths of organic binders-bonded pellets. Bentonite is considered as a chemical impurity for pellet chemistry due to acid constituents (SiO2 and Al2O3). Especially addition of silica-alumina bearing binders is detrimental for iron ore concentrate with high acidic content. Organic binders are the most studied binders since they are free in silica. Although they yield pellets with good wet strength; they have found limited application in industry since they fail to give sufficient physical and mechanical strength to preheated and fired pellets. It is investigated that how insufficient preheated and fired pellet strengths can be improved when organic binders are used as binder. The addition of a slag bonding/strength increasing constituent (free in acidic contents) into pellet feed to provide pellet strength with the use of  organic binders was proposed. Addition of boron compounds such as colemanite, tincal, borax pentahydrate, boric acid together with organic binders such as CMC, starch, dextrin and some organic based binders, into magnetite and hematite pellet mixture was tested. After determining the addition of boron compounds is beneficial to recover the low pellet physical and mechanical qualities in the first part of this study, in this second part, metallurgical and chemical properties (reducibility – swelling index – microstructure – mineralogy - chemical content) of pellets produced with combined binders (an organic binder plus a boron compound) were presented. The metallurgical and chemical tests results showed that good quality product pellets can be produced with combined binders when compared with the bentonite-bonded pellets. Hence, the suggested combined binders can be used as binder in place of bentonite in iron ore pelletizing without compromising the pellet chemistry.

Özet: Türkiye, fındık üretiminde nicelik ve nitelik açısından dünyada ilk sırada yer almaktadır. Fındık zurufu, fındık hasadı sonrası ortaya çıkan ve çoğunlukla değerlendirilmeyen biyokütle materyalidir. Bu çalışmada, %14 nem içeriğine ve 1.023 mm geometrik ortalama çapa sahip fındık zurufu laboratuvar ölçekli 3 kW güçlü pelet makinesinde peletlenmiş ve pelet kalitesi ile ilgili fiziksel özellikler belirlenmiştir. Peletlerin fiziksel özellikleri ile ilgili olarak hacim yoğunluğu, parça yoğunluğu, dayanıklılık direnci, darbe direnci ve nem alma durumu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca çalışmada pelet makinesinin kapasitesi hesaplanmıştır. Fiziksel testler öncesinde peletler 7 gün süre ile 24C sıcaklık ve %55 nem içeriğine sahip çevre şartlarında bekletilmiştir. Çalışma sonunda, ortalama 6.1 mm çapında ve 27 mm uzunluğunda peletler elde edilmiştir. Fındık zurufu peletlerinin parça ve hacim yoğunluğu sırası ile ortalama 1307 kg/m 3 ve 724 kg/m 3 bulunmuştur. Fındık zurufu peletlerinin fiziksel testler sonucu oldukça sağlam yapıda olduğu görülmüş, dayanıklılık direnci ve darbe direnci değerleri sırası ile %97.72 ve %99.60 olarak belirlenmiştir. Peletlerin nem alma direnci ortam sıcaklığı ve nemine bağlı olarak değişmiş ve düşük sıcaklık ve nem koşullarında peletlerin bir miktar nem kaybettikleri saptanmıştır. Pelet makinesinin kapasitesi 67 kg/h olarak bulunmuştur. Anahtar Kelimeler: Pelet, fındık zurufu, pelet fiziksel özellikleri Abstract: Turkey is the biggest producer and exporter in the World in terms of quantity and quality of hazelnut production. Hazelnut husk is a biomass material, emerged after harvest and not evaluated. In this study, hazelnut husk were pelleted in a laboratory-scale pelleting machine with an electrical motor power of 3 kW. Moisture content and geometric main diameter of ground hazelnut husk used in the experiment were 14% and 1.023 mm, respectively. Physical properties of pellets such asbulk density, particle density, durability, impact resistance and moisture sorption were determined. Also, the capacity of the pelleting machine was determined. Before testing, the briquettes were kept in a room at 24°C temperature and 55% relative humidity during 7 days. At the end of this study, pellets was obtained at the average diameter of 6.1 mm and length of 27 mm. The average bulk density and particle density of hazelnut husk pellets were 1307 kg/m 3 and 724 kg/m 3 , respectively. The results of physical tests showed that hazelnut husk pellets were quite strong, and durability and impact resistance values of pellets were 97.72% and 99.60%, respectively. Moisture sorption of pellets was changed depending on the ambient temperature and humidity, and the pellets lost the limited moisture at the low temperature and humidity conditions. The average pellet production capacity of the pelleting machine was found to be 67 kg/h.

A series of activated carbon from cocoa shell (CSAC) was prepared from cocoa shell pellet (CS) by carbonization and followed by physical activation using CO2 as the activation agent. Carbonization was done in a flow of N2 using a fixed-bed reactor at 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 C with soaking time at the carbonization temperature for an hour. The selected char indicated completion of the aromatization process which suggests no structural changes beyond this temperature. Char monolith, carbonized at 800 C were activated at 850 C using a fixed bed reactor for different burn-offs. The drilling of the pores possibly occurred at burn-off below 60% which indicated by huge increase of absolute pore volume against the burn-off. The surface area at 48.5% burn-off was estimated at 366.26 m2 g-1. High burn-off product tends to develop larger micropore and moderate BET surface area. The largest surface area of CSAC was recorded at 558.25 m2 g-1. During activation, the aromatization of CSAC increased but the aliphacity decreased accordingly. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

http://ac.els-cdn.com/S2213343713000663/1-s2.0-S2213343713000663-main.pdf?_tid=e18d987c-2363-11e4-a90a-00000aacb361&acdnat=1407987442_b2b1675274ffd0c4f721c043e8774469 
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343713000663

The goal of this paper is to examine sustainability impacts of forest bioenergy by determining social perspectives, and combining that with the economic and environmental impacts to evaluate tools that optimize these impacts. Public perceptions about bioenergy is used in this paper to understand how society perceives bioenergy impacts and a qualitative and a quantitative tool have been compared to optimize bioenergy sustainability.
A systematic literature review on stakeholders’ perception of bioenergy resulted in 44 published articles between 2000 and 2013. Among stakeholder groups, the majority of studies (79%) focused on the general public’s opinion about bioenergy. Overall findings show that the stakeholder groups show low to moderate support for the bioenergy industry. The results of the systematic review introduced in Chapter 1.
Based on the systematic review, an extensive survey of the general public was conducted in NC and TN in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014. The results from this study are presented in Chapter 2. Approximately, 586 consumers completed the electronic survey (376 NC, 210 TN). Solar and wind energy sources were mostly recognized as renewable compared to all other energy sources. The findings from this study highlight not only educational needs and outreach efforts but also reflect the need for trustworthy channels of communication, helpful policy, market, and institutional support for bioenergy success.
Chapter 3 includes an assessment of a qualitative tool to examine the social, economic and environmental impacts of bioenergy for a wood-to-pellet production case.  A Multi-Attribute Decision Support System (MADSS) was used to analyze woody feedstock alternatives – naturally regenerated hardwood, plantation pine, and plantation poplar - for pellet production. Plantation pine were found the most sustainable, closely followed by natural hardwood. When analyzing economic criteria alone plantation pine and plantation poplar were found to have advantages over natural hardwood, due in large part to their higher growth rates.  On both environmental and social indicators, natural hardwood was found to have a better footprint compared to the other two feedstocks.
A quantitative tool – linear programming - was used to optimize of forest biomass supply chain for bioenergy production. Two feedstocks (roundwood and wood residues), two products (white pellet, torrefied pellet), two markets (domestic, international), and two kinds of end use (power generating, heating) were optimized. The objective of this case study was to optimize the monetized social, environmental, and economic impacts of different alternatives, and analyze the trade-offs.  The economic optimization resulted that the best solution was to use 1104 GBtu Roundwood and 474 GBtu forest residue feedstock for producing black pellet to the EU, for heating. The higher bioenergy prices in the EU and using the maximum capacity of the pellet mill resulted in $5.4 million profit/year. The economic and social impacts optimization differs from the economic in the achievable profit and rank of the scenarios. Although, roundwood costed more than forest residue, this payment was a social benefit for the local community, so the higher feedstock cost resulted in higher benefits together. Also, the higher feedstock demand for black pellet production made it more advantageous from socio-economic perspective. The economic and social optimization resulted in $19.8 million a year, what was almost four times higher than the economic benefit alone. Both socio-economic and the tri-objective (economic, social, and environmental) optimization found that black pellet production from roundwood to the EU market for heating is the most beneficial. Black pellet became even more advantageous because the higher energy density decreased ocean transportation costs, but also reduced the emission by transportation of energy.

Seeking to become more climate-friendly and less energy-consuming, the European Union has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and milestones to achieve this are set to 20 % by 2020, 40 % by 2030, 60 % by 2040 and 80 % by 2050. Due to its abundance, biomass is gaining more and more importance both for the production of thermal energy by direct combustion or gasification of vegetal materials, for electricity and for the production of biofuels. Direct combustion of biomass generates CO 2 , but the process is neutral in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, because the same amount of CO 2 was absorbed by plants from the air during their life cycle. Ecological solid fuels such as pellets have become rapidly a viable alternative to fossil fuels, due to their high energy content, which makes them suitable for use by both small households and industrial consumers. Pellets are obtained from a variety of raw materials such as: agricultural residues, energy crops, forestry and wood residues, used exclusively or mixed and having different physical-chemical properties. This paper presents a summary of literature on the effect of the moisture content on the properties of pellets obtained from various types of biomass. Moisture content of raw material is one of the most important factors that influence negatively the properties of pellets, such as bulk density or mechanical durability during storage and transportation. Energy consumption increases during pelletizing of high moisture biomass, as moisture is a lubricant that lowers friction in the die. Other studies found a positive correlation between pellets durability and optimal moisture (10 %), because water together with the die temperature, pressure and chemical composition of raw material acts like a binding agent that increases pellet quality. Pellets with 5 % moisture have low strength, become brittle, and large amounts of dust are produced during their storage and transportation. Moisture higher than 15 % damages pellets during storage.

The Roach’s mouse-tailed dormice (Myomimus roachi) is an endangered
mammal in Europe with poorly known distribution and biology in Bulgaria.
Cranial remains of 15 specimens were determined among 30532 mammals
in Barn Owl (Tyto alba) pellets in 35 localities from 2000 to 2008 and 32941
mammals in Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) pellets in 59 localities from 1988 to
2011 in SE Bulgaria. This dormouse was present with single specimens in
11 localities and whit 4 specimens in one locality. It is one of the rarest
mammals in the region that forms only up to 1% by number of mammalian
prey in the more numerous pellet samples. The existing protected areas
ecological network covers six out of 15 (40%) localities where the species
has been detected in the last two decades. We discuss the necessity of
designation of new Natura 2000 zones for the protection of the Roach’s
mouse-tailed dormouse in Bulgaria.

Background: Forensic investigators often comes across cases where the projectile is found in severelydamaged condition, fragmented, or not recovered from the victim or the scene of crime. Analysis of entryand exit hole becomes essential to determine the calibre or type of projectile used to aid investigation.Purpose: The present study was performed to study impact made by lead and copper pellets fired fromHammerli AR 20 7.5 Joules where targets used were fabric (cotton and silk), glass (sodalime glass, texturedand privacy pane) and wood (MDF and plywood).Procedure: The current study was performed using fabric (cotton and silk), glass (sodalime glass, texturedand privacy pane) and wood (MDF and plywood) by firing pellets firing at10 metres.Main findings: The fibres protruded outwards around margin of entry hole. The diameter of entry hole, exithole and penetration depth was consistent among the same type of target.Conclusion: Post analysis of the present data was done to study the in...

Doped and undoped specimens of nano-particulate ZnO with 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% ruthenium were prepared through a chemical route. Structural characterization of the samples performed with XRD established that all the nanoparticles are of zinc oxide having polycrystalline nature. Morphological studies were conducted using FESEM to confirm the grain size and texture. Electrical measurements showed that the ac conductivity increases with frequency but decreases with increasing ruthenium concentration, making it a potential option for device applications. It is found that the absorbance does not significantly change with doping. The above fact is further confirmed from the bandgap calculations using the reflectance graphs. A decrease of bandgap from 3.42 to 3.19 eV with increasing Ru concentration is observed making it an important and advantageous material for potential visible light photocatalytic applications involving metal oxide nanostructures.

Today, in Europe, there is still no industrial process to favor the distribution of exhausted extinguishing powders (EEP). Extinguishing powders (EP) are the most common extinguishing agents and are composed of very fine particles (90% is less than 0.250mm, with at least 40% less than 0.040mm) Illegal processes of disposal or reuse of  EEP currently taking place throughout Europe. In fact, often maintenance companies illegally dispose of and/or reuse spent extinguishing powders with enormous environmental damage. This is partly due to prohibitive costs, of which a large part due to transport. The demand for fertilizers is increasing; phosphorus is a key raw material, and a possible solution could be mixing with compost and other organic biomass and agricultural residues. In general, both compost and EEP powder have a low density and can take up a great deal of storage volume, so thickening this compost would help reduce the required storage capacity. Furthermore, a danger represented by the handling of compost and EEP is the dispersion of dust that can potentially carry pathogens and toxic organic substances which, if inhaled, could cause respiratory problems during distribution and handling. The aim of this study was to produce compost pellets using exhausted EP in different formulations and to observe the quality of different compost pellet products with respect to different factors affecting handling, storage, and distribution. For the first time, the pelletizing of EEP with compost was performed successfully using five different blends, each with different properties. The results showed that qualitative variables could be controlled to optimize production efficiency and improve the quality of the finished product depending on the type of distribution, handling, and storage. The five compost mixes could be applied in different agricultural crops as fertilizer. Furthermore, this use of exhausted EP allows for positive ecological and economic effects, avoiding the disposal costs required by specialized companies.

Traduction annotée d'un court texte d’Ibn Taymiyya sur l'usage de l'arc à jalet (qaws al-bunduq) et le milieu peu recommandable de ses adeptes, qu'il compare à ceux qui fréquentent les salles de lutte (qâ‘ât al-‘ilâj) ; voir Ibn Taymiyya, “Jāmi‘ al-masā’il VII”, édition ‘A. b. M. AL-‘IMRĀN, La Mecque, Dār ‘Ālam al-Fawā’id li-l-Nashr wa l-Tawzī‘, « Āthār Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyya wa mā laḥiqa-hā min a‘māl, 17 », 1432[/2011], p. 299-307. Avec addenda.

The production of wood pellets has grown considerably in the last decades. Besides woody
biomass, other feedstocks can be used for pellet production. Among these, miscanthus presents
some advantages because, even if specifically cultivated, it requires low inputs such as fertilisers and
pesticides and shows high biomass yield (up to 28 tons of dry matter ha􀀀1 in Europe). Even if in
the last years some studies evaluated the environmental impact of woody pellet production, there
is no information about the environmental performances of miscanthus pellet production. In this
study, the environmental impact of miscanthus pellet was evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment
approach with a cradle-to plant gate perspective. Primary data were collected in a small-medium size
pelletizing plant located in Northern Italy where miscanthus is cultivated to be directly processed.
The results highlight how the miscanthus pellet shows lower environmental impact compared to
woody pellet, mainly due to the lower energy consumption during pelletizing. The possibility to
pelletize the miscanthus biomass without any drying offsets the environmental impact related to the
miscanthus cultivation for all the evaluated impact categories (except for Marine eutrophication).
In detail, for global warming potential, 1 ton of miscanthus pellet shows an impact of 121.6 kg CO2
eq. (about 8% lower respect to woody pellet) while for the other evaluated impact categories the
impact reduction ranges from 4 to 59%. Harvesting, which unlike the other field operations is carried
out every year, is by far the main contributor to the impacts of the cultivation phase while electricity
is the main contributor to the pelletizing

Bone fragments of a young and an adult Grey Dwarf Hamsters (Cricetulus migratorius (Pallas, 1773)) were found
in Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo (Linn aeus, 1758)) diets in South-East Bulgaria (UTM squares MH 91/92 and NH 21/22).
These new localities in the foot of Hisar hills range predominantly field crops, lightly grazed pastures and thorny
shrubs. They lie remote almost 30 km from each other. The Grey Dwarf Hamsters exists with low population density
in the small mammals’ communities in the new localities according to its very low presents in the Eagle Owl diets
(3.03%, n = 33 Ind. and 0.22%, n = 452 Ind. by number of mammals weighted below 50 g).

The population peak of voles (Microtus spp.) in south-east Bulgaria leads to their
dominance – 50.9 ±5.2 % by number and 67.9 ±5.4 % by biomass – in the diet of Barn
Owl (Tyto alba) (n = 9 localities). The average weight of Barn Owl prey increases to
24.7±0.8 g, the food-niche narrows to 2.83±0.3, and the overlap in diets rises to 98 %.
The two taxa, true mice (Mus spp.) and white-toothed shrews (Crocidura spp.), dominate
the diet of Barn Owls under normal conditions at the study sites but have a considerably
lower proportion during spikes in vole population. Together with voles, the true mice
(20.3 ±5 % by number and 18.9 ±5 % by biomass) form 80 % by number and biomass
of the prey. The proportion of little white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens)
(15.2 ±4.2 % by number and 3.1 ±0.7 % by biomass) declined and the species became
a secondary prey species in terms of prey biomass. The bicoloured white-toothed shrew
(C. leucodon) dropped from the list of important prey species during spikes of vole
population. Farm use of rodenticides is very likely to have caused a decline in the
number of voles and true mice in the diet. The Barn Owl changed its prey target to
white-toothed shrews (41 % and 57 % by number, 20 % and 25 % by biomass), eastern
spadefoot (Pelobates syriacus) (up to 6 % by number) and large (up to 5 cm) grasshoppers
(Decticus albifrons) (up to 6 % by number) as well as to other shrews (up to
10 % by number).