Flow and Physical Properties of Switchgrass, Peanut Hull, and Poultry Litter

The heating value; carbon, hydrogen, and ash contents; and the effect of particle size (hammer mill screen sizesof 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mm) on the flow and physical properties of three biomass feedstocks (peanut hull, switchgrass, and poultrylitter) were determined. Poultry litter had a heating value of 13.11 MJ/kg and was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than theheating values of switchgrass (19.20 MJ/kg) and peanut hull (19.93 MJ/kg). The carbon, hydrogen, and ash contents of poultrylitter were also significantly different from those of switchgrass and peanut hull. Compressibility, bulk and particle densitiesof the feedstocks were significantly affected (P < 0.05) while their flow behavior were not significantly affected by particlesize. Poultry litter was the least compressible (maximum of 12.2% at consolidating pressure of 15 kPa), while peanut hullwas the most compressible (maximum of 33.0% at consolidating pressure of 15 kPa). Based on compressibility and the valuesof flow index (peanut hull = 2.80; switchgrass = 3.46; poultry litter = 4.46), peanut hull and switchgrass can be classifiedas cohesive/poor flowing materials, while poultry litter is an easy flowing material.