• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.510-514
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• 2014

In this work, the effect of torrefaction on the basic characteristic of sewage sludge was studied to evaluate the energy potential as a solid fuel. Torrefaction experiments were performed at temperatures of $150{\sim}600^{\circ}C$. The torrefied sewage sludge was characterized by the energy yield, ash content, volatile fraction and high heating value (HHV). The gaseous products from torrefaction of the sewage sludge were also analyzed. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out for the kinetic analysis of sewage sludge torrefaction. From this work, it was found that the ash content increased with an increase of the torrefaction temperature while the energy yield, HHV and volatile fraction decreased. It was also found that the emission of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon gases started at $300^{\circ}C$ by the thermal degradation of volatile components in the sewage sludge.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

Torrefaction is considered as a promising pre-treatment for thermochemical utilization of biomass. Torrefaction temperature and time are the critical operation parameters. In this study, investigated were the effects of reaction temperature and time on product composition of torrefaction. scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) results were also compared for the effects of the operating parameters. SEM images showed that the pores were observed at the temperature of $250^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. Rapid decreases in weight were observed the temperature between 200 and$400^{\circ}C$. Higher heating value of the torrefied biomass was over 5,000 kcal/kg at the temperature of $250^{\circ}C$ for 45 minutes. Energy density, which is defined as the ratio of the energy yield over the mass yield was 1.36 at the temperature of $250^{\circ}C$ for 45 minutes. The energy density was higher up to 1.6 at the temperature of $280^{\circ}C$, which indicates greater loss in mass. The major components of the gas produced in the torrefaction were $CO_2$ and CO, with traces of methane. The total amount of gas was 31.54 l/kg and the calorific value of the gas was $1,164.4Kcal/Nm^3$ at the temperature of $250^{\circ}C$ for 30 minute reaction time. Based on the results of this study, the temperature of effective torrefaction is about $250^{\circ}C$ for 30 to 45 minutes of reaction time. Considering the heating value, it is desirable to utilize the gas for efficient process of torrefaction.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.196-205
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fuel characteristics of thermally treated wood chips of the Larix kaempferi C. As torrefaction temperature was increased ($200^{\circ}C$ to $300^{\circ}C$), the carbon content, calorific value, and mass loss of torrefied wood chips increased significantly. The torrefied wood chips were shown to have hydrophobic properties even when only treated by mild torrefaction. The energy required to grind torrefied wood chips was reduced by the torrefaction process. Different sizes of wood chips were used in this study; however, this produced almost no difference in the fuel characteristics of processed Larix kaempferi C, except in the distribution of ground wood particles. Similar results were observed when the wood chips were torrefied for different lengths of time (15 min to 60 min) at a constant temperature. Torrefaction was shown to have positive effects on the fuel characteristics of Larix kaempferi C, including improved energy density, storage, and grindability.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.683-690
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• 2017

Wood pellet (WP), empty fruit bunch (EFB) and palm kernel shell (PKS) which are biomass fuels for power generation are selected to study the characteristics of torrefaction process. These biomass fuels are torrefied at $220^{\circ}C$, $250^{\circ}C$, and $280^{\circ}C$. The heating value of biomass fuels is increased depending on the torrefaction temperature. However, due to energy yield decline, it is not always desirable to torrefy biomass at higher temperature. Considering the mass yield and energy yield after torrefaction, the most proper temperature conditions for torrefaction of WP is $250-280^{\circ}C$ and for EFB, PKS are $220-250^{\circ}C$. Additionally, to investigate the phenomenons of chlorine release during torrefaction process, Ion Chromatography (IC) method was used. In the case of EFB and PKS torrefied at $300^{\circ}C$, the chlorine component has been reduced by 97.5% and 95.3% compared to the raw biomass, respectively. In conclusion, torrefied biomass can be used as alternative fuels in replacement of coals for both aspects of heating value and chlorine corrosion problems.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2013

In this work, torrefaction of the sewage sludge was investigated the characteristics of torrefied products and the value of as energy resource to improve energy density and to maintain consistent quality of SRF. Torrefaction was performed two important torrefaction operational parameter, temperature($150-230^{\circ}C$) and reaction time(10-60min). As raising the torrefaction temperature at long reaction times, the moisture content of torrefied products was decreased, while the heating value was increased. Moreover, increasing of the torrefaction temperature led to a increase of the content of the carbon up to 60% compare to the initial the sample, and a decrease of the content hydrogen and oxygen. Especially, Average heating value was 4,818 kcal/kg regardless of the reaction time when torrefaction was performed over $210^{\circ}C$. In addition, the fuel ration and coal band were improved after torrefaction because the O/C and the H/C ratio were decreased.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.280-291
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• 2018

Torrefaction is one of the methods to increase combustion calorific value and hydrophobicity of biomass. In this study, the effects of torrefaction on devolatilization, char reactivity and biomass structure were analyzed. Empty fruit bunch (EFB) and Kenaf biomass were used as fuels to be torrefied in the N2 environment at 200, 250 and $290^{\circ}C$. Devolatilization and char kinetics were analyzed by using TGA and biomass structure was investigated through petrography image. The reactivity showed different trends depending on the torrefaction temperature and biomass structure. The herbaceous biomass, Kenaf, was shown as high reactivity and thin wall structure. On the contrary, the woody biomass, EFB, had relatively low reactivity and thick wall structure.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.363-374
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• 2024

Nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) seeds, which account for 40% of the fruit, have been used as a raw material for biofuels, and the seed shells remaining after their extraction are wasted. In this study, we investigated the potential of waste Nyamplung seed shells in the form of pellets as a biomass energy resource. A completely randomized research design was implemented to evaluate the effects of torrefaction and heat treatment on the quality of produced pellets. Two observed treatments, namely, particle size (0.18-0.25, 0.25-0.43, and 0.43-0.84 mm) and torrefaction temperature (200℃, 225℃, and 250℃), were investigated. Our results showed that the calorific value of torrefied Nyamplung seed-shell pellets ranged from 4,245.60 to 4,528.00 cal/g, fulfilling the Indonesia Nasional Standard (≥ 4,000 cal/g). The quality of pellets were the best when produced from raw materials with a particle size of 0.18-0.25 mm and torrefaction temperature of 225℃. Thus, we concluded that waste Nyamplung seed shells are a good raw material for the production of pellets.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.34-45
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• 2016

Global warming and climate change have been caused by combustion of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases contributed to the rise of temperature between $0.6^{\circ}C$ and $0.9^{\circ}C$ over the past century. Presently, fossil fuels account for about 88% of the commercial energy sources used. In developing countries, fossil fuels are a very attractive energy source because they are available and relatively inexpensive. The environmental problems with fossil fuels have been aggravating stress from already existing factors including acid deposition, urban air pollution, and climate change. In order to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, fossil fuels must be replaced by eco-friendly fuels such as biomass. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary. The biomass resources are the most common form of renewable energy. The conversion of biomass into energy can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common form of converted biomass is pellet fuels as biofuels made from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellets from lignocellulosic biomass has compared to conventional fuels with a relatively low bulk and energy density and a low degree of homogeneity. Thermal pretreatment technology like torrefaction is applied to improve fuel efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, i.e., less moisture and oxygen in the product, preferrable grinding properties, storage properties, etc.. During torrefacton, lignocelluosic biomass such as palm kernell shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was roasted under an oxygen-depleted enviroment at temperature between 200 and $300^{\circ}C$. Low degree of thermal treatment led to the removal of moisture and low molecular volatile matters with low O/C and H/C elemental ratios. The mechanical characteristics of torrefied biomass have also been altered to a brittle and partly hydrophobic materials. Unfortunately, it was much harder to form pellets from torrefied PKS and EFB due to thermal degradation of lignin as a natural binder during torrefaction compared to non-torrefied ones. For easy pelletization of biomass with torrefaction, pellets from PKS and EFB were manufactured before torrefaction, and thereafter they were torrefied at different temperature. Even after torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, their appearance was well preserved with better fuel efficiency than non-torrefied ones. The physical properties of the torrefied pellets largely depended on the torrefaction condition such as reaction time and reaction temperature. Temperature over $250^{\circ}C$ during torrefaction gave a significant impact on the fuel properties of the pellets. In particular, torrefied EFB pellets displayed much faster development of the fuel properties than did torrefied PKS pellets. During torrefaction, extensive carbonization with the increase of fixed carbons, the behavior of thermal degradation of torrefied biomass became significantly different according to the increase of torrefaction temperature. In conclusion, pelletization of PKS and EFB before torrefaction made it much easier to proceed with torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, leading to excellent eco-friendly fuels.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

This study is to investigate the effect of torrefaction on enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for bio-ethanol production. As a pretreatment, the torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass was conducted in temperature of $250{\sim}350^{\circ}C$ in the absence of oxygen. Tween-80, nonionic surfactant, was tested to enhance saccharification efficiency by coping with hydrophobicity resulted from torrefaction. As a result, the glucose production from enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass pretreated by torrefaction was greater than that obtained from the non-pretreated biomass. Sugar conversion was higher when the biomass was saccharified with addition of tween-80. It was found that torrefaction can be applied as a preptreatment for lignocellulosic biomass and tween-80 is needed to enhance its enzyme saccharification.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.360-369
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• 2016

In this study, sequential leaching and wet torrefaction were performed to improve the fuel characteristics of empty fruit bunch (EFB). Leaching was carried out at $25{\sim}90^{\circ}C$ for 5~30 min. The highest ash removal efficiency of 55.99% was achieved when leaching was performed at $90^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The ash removal efficiency was dependent more on leaching temperature than time. Wet torrefaction was carried out at $180{\sim}200^{\circ}C$ for 5~40 min, following the leaching. Most of the inorganic compounds were removed at removal efficiencies of 41.05~63.58% during sequential leaching and wet torrefaction, while silica remained in the biomass. Chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus showed more than 80% removal efficiencies. The calorific value of EFB increased to 7.96% (4730 kcal/kg) in comparison to the raw material (4390 kcal/kg) when wet torrefaction was performed at $200^{\circ}C$ for 40 min following leaching.