Analysis of the Effect of Fe(2)O(3) Addition in the Combustion of a Wood-Based Fuel

A comparative study was carried out of emissions from the catalytic combustion of pellets made from furniture board waste and pellets made from wood mixed with Fe(2)O(3). The mass content of the Fe(2)O(3) catalyst in the fuel was varied from 0% to 5%, 10%, and 15% in relation to the total dry mass weight of the pellets. The average flame temperature in the boiler was between 730 and 800 °C. The effect of the catalyst concentration in the fuel was analysed with respect to the contents of O(2), CO(2), CO, H(2,) and NO(x) in the flue gas and the combustion quality of the pellets in the heating boiler. Changes in the CO(2) content and the proportion of unburned combustible components in the combustion residue were assessed. It was established that an increase in the Fe(2)O(3) content of the prepared fuels had a positive effect on reducing NO(x), CO, and H(2) emissions. However, the proportion of iron oxide in the tested fuel pellets did not significantly influence changes in their combustion quality. A strong effect of the addition of Fe(2)O(3) on the reduction of the average NOx content in the flue gas occurred with the combustion of furniture board fuel, from 51.4 ppm at 0% Fe(2)O(3) to 7.7 ppm for an additive content of 15%. Based on the analysis of the residue in the boiler ash pan, the amount of unburned combustibles relative to their input amounts was found to be 0.09–0.22% for wood pellets and 0.50–0.31% for furniture board waste pellets.