Open AccessTorrefaction/biochar production by microwave and conventional slow pyrolysis – comparison of energy properties
Author(s) -
Gronnow Mark J.,
Budarin Vitaliy L.,
Mašek Ondřej,
Crombie Kyle N.,
Brownsort Peter A.,
Shuttleworth Peter S.,
Hurst Peter R.,
Clark James H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
gcb bioenergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1757-1707
pISSN - 1757-1693
DOI - 10.1111/gcbb.12021
Subject(s) - torrefaction , biochar , pyrolysis , raw material , biomass (ecology) , microwave , biofuel , charcoal , pulp and paper industry , heat of combustion , materials science , bioenergy , waste management , environmental science , process engineering , chemistry , combustion , organic chemistry , agronomy , metallurgy , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , biology
The energy efficiency of torrefaction/pyrolysis of biomass to fuel/biochar was studied using conventional (slow) and microwave (low temperature) pyrolysis. Conventional pyrolysis is approximately three times as energy efficient as microwave pyrolysis, in terms of the energy required to process a unit of feedstock. However, this is more than compensated for by the higher energy content of the condensable and gaseous coproducts from microwave pyrolysis, as these can be utilized to generate the electricity required to drive the process. It is proposed that the most efficient method of torrefaction/biochar production is a combination of conventional heating with ‘catalytic’ amount of microwave irradiation.