Emissions from thermal degradation of pellets with different contents of olive waste and forest residues

The thermal decomposition of pellets made from pyrenean oak (PK) and olive waste pomace (OP) mixed under different proportions (0–100 wt.% of OP) was studied. Mass spectra measurements were accomplished simultaneously in order to elucidate the emissions generated during the weight loss of the lignocellulosic materials. The coupled TG–MS study allowed the monitoring of the emissions of CO 2, SO 2, NO, C 6H 6 and C 7H 8, and the differences found were related to the chemical composition of the precursors and also to the features of their thermal degradation. It was found that in general a high content of OP favors the release of these emissions at lower temperatures. On the other hand, the effect of OP content on the ion intensity height of the emissions is more marked in the range 25–75 wt.% of OP. The analysis of the emission profiles for each case allows a proper design of the experimental conditions in order to get a better control of the process.