Open AccessInfluence of torrefaction on yields and characteristics of densified solid biofuel
Author(s) -
Natthawan Prasongthum,
Neeranuch Duangwongsa,
Pathompat Khowattana,
Amornrat Suemanotham,
P. Wongharn,
Yoothana Thanmongkhon,
Prasert Reubroycharoen,
Lalita Attanatho
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/2175/1/012027
Subject(s) - torrefaction , heat of combustion , biomass (ecology) , pellets , pulp and paper industry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , biofuel , chemistry , combustion , lignocellulosic biomass , yield (engineering) , materials science , solid fuel , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , lignin , pyrolysis , waste management , composite material , agronomy , biology , engineering
Torrefaction is a mild thermal pretreatment for enhancing the combustion property of biomass to be properly applied to biomass or co-firing power plants. The present research investigated mass yields, fuel characteristics and hydrophobicity of rubber wood pellet torrefied at different temperatures and residence times. Proximate and ultimate analyses, the enhancement factor of higher heating value, energy yield, lignocellulosic components and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of torrefied samples were performed to evaluate the influence of the process parameters and compared to those of the untreated ones. The non-condensable and condensable products were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The results showed that the torrefaction severity index (TSI) correlated sufficiently with the properties of torrefied biomass and was more sensitive to torrefaction temperature than residence time. The increase in the TSI value resulted in an increase in heating value but a decrease in energy yield. The energy density increased by 14% at 260 °C and reached up to 35% at torrefaction temperature of 300 °C. FT-IR analysis revealed that the contents of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups appeared in torrefied wood pellets were decreased and increased, respectively, due to the torrefaction process. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of torrefied pellets can be significantly improved as torrefaction temperature increases. The non-condensable gaseous products were mostly composed of CO 2 , CO, and traces of CH 4 . While the organic compounds found in condensable liquid products were acids, ketones, furans and phenols.