Prediction of higher heating value based on elemental composition for lignin and other fuels

Higher heating values (HHV), as well as carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, nitrogen and ash contents have been experimentally determined for eight lignin samples. Systematization and analysis of equations for prediction of HHV for the different fuels (coal, wood, biomass, waste, etc.) based on the carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, chlorine, phosphorus, and ash content were carried out. The feasibility of 27 equations for predicting lignin HHV has been checked. A simple new equation for predicting lignin HHV based on the carbon content has been proposed; its accuracy is 2.4%.