Optimization of the Use of Biomass Residues in the Poplar Plywood Sector

This work of research deals with the optimization of the use of biomass residues within an enterprise working in the poplar plywood sector. Productive process analysis showed that biomass residues deriving from production represent more than 54% of the raw material, sensibly influencing production costs. The management of these production residues needs the definition of optimal strategies in order to increase system efficiency. Every residue is characterized by specific features that distinguish it from other scraps: chemical composition, moisture content, calorific value and price. These characteristics determine the next use of each residue: some of them are burnt to produce thermal energy, others are reused into the productive process and others can be sold in the market. The main objective of this study is represented by the definition of the optimal quantities of the biomass residues for the different purposes in order to maximize the enterprise profit and the definition of the implementation tool in order to apply operatively the defined models. In particular, the proposed tool permits a reduction of the production costs (i.e energy saving) and a consequent increasing of the profit of 15% with respect to the current production policy.