PREDICTION FOR TOTAL MOISTURE CONTENT IN WOOD PELLETS BY NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS)

Mankind consumes as many fossil fuels per year nature produced during a million years. Furthermore, energy consumption has tripled in the last 60 years, and is expected to be doubled 2050, due technological economic takeoff of large emerging powers. In light this scenario, change policies should aimed promote efficiency use sustainable resources, such bioenergy, safely environmental friendly. Biomass take main role EU's climate policies, at reducing CO2 emissions combating Climate Change. Quality control biofuels knowledge their characteristics reach relevance any industrial application based on biofuels. NIRS technology (near infrared spectroscopy, Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy) interaction between electromagnetic radiation material, now presented an encouraging tool for quality testing solid biofuels, since it non-destructive much faster cheaper analytical technique than traditional ones, which are current ISO standards. That appears spectral vibrations (energy absorption or absorbance) that properly processed, allowing measure most important physical-chemical properties fast, simple way. Wood pellet highest biofuel biomass market, regulated by ENplus® certification scheme European-wide, ensuring product consumers. Low heating value parameter biofuel, strongly linked total moisture content, so key factor pelletizing process. The original research carried out work allows present development prediction model wood pellets, range values 5 – 10 %, providing more automated methodology control, both production plants pellets power with fuel. Keywords: near moisture,