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http://dx.doi.org/10.5658/WOOD.2015.43.1.122

Effect of Torrefaction Condition on The Chemical Composition and Fuel Characteristics of Larch wood  

Kim, Sang Tae (Department of Wood and Paper Science, College of Agriculture, Life & Environments Sciences, Chungbuk National University)
Lee, Jae-Jung (Division of Wood Chemistry & Microbiology, Department of Forest Products, Korea Forest Research Institute)
Park, Dae-Hak (Department of Wood and Paper Science, College of Agriculture, Life & Environments Sciences, Chungbuk National University)
Yang, In (Department of Wood and Paper Science, College of Agriculture, Life & Environments Sciences, Chungbuk National University)
Han, Gyu-Seong (Department of Wood and Paper Science, College of Agriculture, Life & Environments Sciences, Chungbuk National University)
Ahn, Byoung Jun (Division of Wood Chemistry & Microbiology, Department of Forest Products, Korea Forest Research Institute)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology / v.43, no.1, 2015 , pp. 122-134 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the potential of torrefied larch wood as a raw material of pellets. First of all, larch chip was torrefied at the temperatures of 230, 250 and $270^{\circ}C$ for 30, 50 and 70 min. Secondly, moisture content, moisture absorption, higher heating value and ash content of the torrefied chip were measured to examine the effects of torrefaction conditions on the fuel characteristics of larch. Thirdly, surfaces of the torrefied chip were observed by light microscope (LM), field emission scanning microscope (FE-SEM) and SEM-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDXS). With the increases of torrefied temperature and time, contents of lignin increased and those of hemicellulose reduced. Moisture content of torrefied larch chip was greatly lower than that of non-torrefied chip. Moisture absorption of the torrefied chip decreased as torrefaction temperature increased. As torrefaction temperature increased, higher heating value and ash content of larch chip increased. However, durability of torrefied-larch pellets was remarkably lower comparing to non-torrefied-larch pellets. When surface of larch chip was observed by LM and FE-SEM, surface color and cell wall of the chip was getting darker and more collapsed with the increases of torrefaction conditions. Through the analysis of SEM-EDXS, distribution and quantity of lignin existing on the surface of larch chip increased with the increases of torrefied conditions. In conclusion, $270^{\circ}C$/50 min might be an optimal condition for the torrefaction of larch with the aspect of fuel characteristics, but torrefaction condition of $230^{\circ}C$/30 min should be considered according to the durability of torrefied-larch pellets.
Keywords
pellet; torrefaction; fuel characteristic; moisture absorption; field emission scanning microscope; SEM-EDXS;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 4  (Citation Analysis)
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