Get to know the pellet, a viable and renewable alternative to traditional fuels for use in furnaces and boilers
Briquetting and pelletizing are processes of energy densification of biomass. They are processes to transform waste into solid fuel. The principle of the briquetting process is the same as pelletizing, the plasticization of lignin.
The size of pellets varies between 6 mm and 16 mm, while briquettes have a diameter starting at 50 mm. Pelletizing is a more demanding extrusion process than briquetting. The presses are more demanding and the process is more selective with residues.
Any residue of plant origin can be compacted by briquetting or pelletizing, just meeting the particle size, lignin, and moisture content requirements demanded by the process.
There are several technologies for compacting lignocellulosic residues:
Mechanical piston extruders or mechanical crank piston press (forms briquettes) Hydraulic piston extruders or hydraulic briquette press (forms briquettes) Endless screw extruders or screw press briquette press (forms briquettes) Pelletizers (forms pellets) or pellets. 
| Characteristics | Pellets |
|---|---|
| Heating value | 16.92 - 17.64 MJ/kg |
| Heating value | 17.0 GJ/ton |
| - per Kg | 4.7kwh/kg |
| - per m3 | 3077 kwh/m3 |
| Density | 650 - 750 kg/m |
| Diameter | 6 - 14 mm |
| Length | 20 - 30 mm |
| Ash | 0.4 - 1.5% |
| Moisture | 7 - 12% |
