Influence of Binders on the Properties of Pellets Based on Wood Waste

The influence of binders on the strength of sawdust pellets is investigated. Two groups of binders are considered: commercial products (starch and lignin); and those derived from low-grade fuels and waste (coal sludge, peat, and sunflower cake). All the additives considered improve pellet strength under vibration by 3.9–8.0%. Under impact, none of the pellets disintegrated completely. The impact strength was greatest for sawdust-based pellets with no additives. The use of special additives reduces the hygroscopic properties by 0.9–1.3%. The experimental results show that pellets containing peat are dense and wear-resistant and withstand impact well, but they are inclined to absorb atmospheric moisture. The best binder concentration is 5 wt %; that most improves pellet behavior. With 10 wt % binder, the pellet quality is either practically unchanged or impaired.