Biomass Corn Cobs Pellet Production Line in China

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Project Background

The biomass pellet production line in China emerged as a direct response to the explosive growth of mushroom cultivation in Linxi County, Hebei Province. Led by several large-scale industrial mushroom production bases, the region has witnessed a sharp increase in small and medium-sized farms following the cluster effect. Mushroom farming requires a large amount of biological filler, typically in the form of sterilized biomass blocks or pellets, which serve as the growing medium for edible fungi.

Traditionally, mushroom substrate was produced by small family-run workshops or sourced from scattered agricultural processors. However, such operations suffered from inconsistent product quality, low efficiency, and lack of environmental controls. As the mushroom industry grew into an industrialized sector, these fragmented suppliers could no longer meet the demand.

Thus, the client—an agricultural products development company with experience in crop by-product utilization—decided to invest in a large-scale, industrialized biomass pellet production line in China, with the twin goals of:

1. Stabilizing the mushroom industry supply chain by ensuring a reliable source of filler substrate.
2. Upgrading resource utilization by processing surplus agricultural residues (particularly corn cobs) into value-added products.

Corn is a dominant crop in Hebei Province, and corn cobs are readily available in massive quantities after harvest. Instead of being discarded or burned, they can be transformed into standardized biomass pellets that are clean, easy to transport, and highly consistent in quality.

The biomass pellet project is designed for an annual production of 180,000 tons of biomass filler, with flexibility to supply:

• Mushroom substrate pellets (primary use).
• Compressed biomass blocks for transport and storage.
• Potential use in bioenergy markets as renewable fuel pellets.

By positioning itself in the agricultural by-product utilization chain, the investor aims to become a major supplier for mushroom farms across northern China while exploring new markets in biomass fuel.

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Project Basic Information

General Information

• Project Name: Biomass Pellet Production Line in China (Annual Output: 180,000 tons)
• Project Nature: New construction
• Location: Lüzhaizhen, Linxi County, Hebei Province, China
• Land Area: 23,333.45 m²
• Building Area: 16,934 m²
• Total Investment: ~USD 14.2 million
• Environmental Protection Investment: USD 70,000 (0.5% of total investment)
• Workforce: 60 employees
• Working Schedule: One shift, 8 hours/day, 300 days/year
• Production Scale: 180,000 tons of biomass filler annually

Construction Content

The project layout includes both production and auxiliary facilities. The major buildings are:

This integrated arrangement ensures smooth material flow, efficient processing, and safe storage of both raw and finished products.

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Raw Materials

The biomass pellet production line in China relies primarily on corn cobs as the feedstock. Hebei Province produces millions of tons of corn annually, making corn cobs the most abundant and cost-effective raw material in the region.

Corn cobs are lightweight, porous, and contain structural cellulose and lignin, making them suitable for conversion into pellets. When crushed and compressed, they form strong filler blocks ideal for mushroom substrate.

Additional auxiliary materials include packaging bags for storage and transport.

The choice of corn cobs also reflects an environmental strategy, as their utilization reduces open-field burning and waste disposal.

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Production Process

The production process has been carefully designed to ensure efficiency, dust control, and consistent pellet quality.

Step 1: Feeding & Conveying
Corn cobs are manually loaded into the feeding system, where they are transported via belt conveyors into the preprocessing workshop.

Step 2: Cleaning & De-dusting
The material enters a wind separator, which removes light impurities and dust, ensuring clean raw material for crushing.

Step 3: Crushing
Corn cobs are crushed into smaller particles using high-capacity hammer crushers.

Step 4: Screening
The crushed material is passed through vibrating screens. Oversized particles are sent back for re-crushing, while undersized dust is collected via a pulse bag dust collector.

Step 5: Pelletizing or Briquetting
Qualified particles are either:

• Sent to a bagging system for pellet packaging (30 kg/bag).
• Compressed into pellets/briquettes (30 kg/block) using a hydraulic briquette press.

Step 6: Packaging & Storage
Products are weighed, packed, and sent to the finished product warehouse for delivery to mushroom farms and other customers.

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Equipment List and Technical Specifications

The biomass pellet production line in China is equipped with high-quality, reliable machinery to ensure stable operation, high output, and consistent product quality. The equipment has been selected based on the raw material properties, production capacity, and environmental compliance.

These machines form the backbone of the production line. Crushers, conveyors, and fans handle raw material feeding and particle size reduction, while briquette presses and bagging machines convert processed biomass into standardized pellets or blocks. The dust collection system ensures compliance with environmental standards and maintains a clean working environment.

All equipment is installed following industrial standards, with vibration-damped foundations for crushers and pellet presses to reduce noise and improve operational stability. Equipment is designed for continuous operation, with minimal maintenance downtime, supporting the annual production target of 180,000 tons.

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Utilities and Infrastructure

The biomass pellet production line in China has been integrated with a comprehensive utility system to support production, employee welfare, and environmental management.

Power Supply

The facility is powered by the local municipal grid, providing approximately 1.1 million kWh per year. This electricity supports all equipment, including crushers, conveyors, dust collectors, fans, and bagging machines. Office and workshop lighting, air conditioning, and small auxiliary devices are also supplied from the same grid connection.

Water Supply

Water use is primarily for domestic purposes, including drinking, washing, and sanitary facilities for employees. The annual water consumption is 600 m³, supplied by the local municipal network. With 60 employees, domestic water usage is approximately 40 liters per person per day, aligning with local water use norms. No process water is discharged; water used in cleaning or dust suppression is recycled within the plant or utilized for on-site landscaping.

Heating and Cooling

The office and staff rest areas are equipped with split air-conditioning systems for winter heating and summer cooling. Workshops rely on ambient ventilation and localized fan systems to maintain air circulation, ensuring worker comfort while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.

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Environmental Protection Measures

Environmental compliance is critical for the biomass pellet production line in China, especially given the potential for dust and noise from crushing, screening, and pelletizing operations.

Air Pollution Control

Dust generated in the crushing, screening, and material handling processes is captured using a pulse bag dust collector and discharged through a 15-meter-high stack, minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, material handling points are enclosed or covered to prevent dust dispersion.

Wastewater

Since the production line does not use water in the processing stage, wastewater arises only from domestic sources. Annual production of 288 m³ of wastewater is collected and periodically treated for dust suppression or irrigation of green areas, without discharge into local water bodies.

Noise Management

Primary noise sources include crushers, screens, and biomass pellet presses, with sound levels between 75–90 dB(A). Noise mitigation measures include:

• Vibration-damped machine foundations
• Enclosure of noisy equipment
• Proper spacing between workshops and administrative areas

Solid Waste Management

Solid waste includes:

• Dust collected by bag filters (~5,000 tons/year), reused in production
• Non-conforming pellets (~10 tons/year), sold externally for alternative uses
• Packaging waste (~0.01 tons/year), recycled externally
• Domestic garbage (~4.5 tons/year), handled by local sanitation services

These measures ensure minimal environmental impact and compliance with local regulations.

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Plant Layout

The plant layout was designed to ensure efficient material flow, worker safety, and optimal space utilization.

• Entrance: Northeast of the site
• Office & Staff Rest Area: Adjacent to the entrance
• Raw Material Warehouse: West side of the site, running north-south
• Production Workshops: South side, near finished product warehouse for efficient transport
• Finished Product Warehouse: Southeast side, close to loading area
• Maintenance Workshop: Adjacent to production for rapid service

This layout reduces transport distances, improves safety, and ensures smooth operations.

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Project Investment and Economics

The total investment for the biomass pellet production line in China is approximately USD 14.2 million, which includes:

• Construction of workshops, warehouses, and office: USD 8.5 million
• Machinery and equipment: USD 5 million
• Environmental protection and utilities: USD 70,000
• Miscellaneous costs and contingencies: USD 630,000

The production cost per ton of biomass filler is competitive, benefiting from low-cost raw materials (corn cobs) and energy-efficient machinery. With a planned annual output of 180,000 tons, the line is expected to achieve positive cash flow within 3–4 years, making it an attractive investment for agricultural product processors.

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Production Process Flow

The following diagram summarizes the biomass pellet production line in China:

Corn Cob Feeding → De-dusting & Cleaning → Crushing → Screening → Bagging & Briquetting → Finished Product Storage

• Dust, noise, and solid waste are managed at every stage
• Material handling and storage are fully enclosed where possible
• Quality control checks are conducted at the crushing, screening, and final packaging stages

The process ensures uniform particle size, high-density pellets, and low dust content, making the final product suitable for mushroom cultivation and other biomass filler applications.

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Market Analysis and Prospects

China’s mushroom industry is growing at 10–12% annually, and Linxi County represents one of the highest-demand regions for biomass filler substrate. The biomass pellet production line in China addresses several industry pain points:

1. Stable Supply: Industrial-scale production ensures a consistent supply of high-quality filler pellets.
2. Resource Utilization: Corn cobs are transformed from agricultural waste into valuable products, reducing environmental impact.
3. Energy Applications: Surplus pellets can be used as biomass fuel, providing an additional revenue stream.

Future expansion is feasible:

• Incorporation of additional agricultural residues (straw, peanut shells)
• Development of higher-density briquettes for bioenergy
• Supply to domestic and international mushroom farms

RICHI Machinery has provided full equipment supply, installation, and technical support, ensuring smooth commissioning and reliable operation. With proven machinery, process design, and environmental compliance, the project demonstrates the feasibility and profitability of biomass pellet production in China.

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Summary

The biomass pellet production line in China represents a modern, industrial approach to agricultural by-product utilization. Leveraging abundant local corn cob resources, the project achieves high efficiency, environmental compliance, and product consistency. With an annual output of 180,000 tons, a well-planned workflow, modern equipment, and complete environmental protection measures, this facility is a benchmark for industrial biomass pellet production in northern China.

RICHI Machinery’s involvement—from consultation to installation—ensures the project’s technical reliability and operational efficiency, making it an attractive model for investors seeking opportunities in biomass energy and mushroom substrate supply chains.