Chapter 11 - Carbonization of Biomass

Abstract

Carbonization is a slow pyrolysis process in which biomass is converted into a highly carbonaceous, charcoal-like material. Typically, carbonization consists of heating the biomass in an oxygen-free or oxygen-limited environment, and reaction conditions are tailored to maximize the production of char. Traditionally, charcoal production is one of the oldest chemical conversion processes known to mankind. Even today, charcoal production continues on a large scale worldwide, and is still making use—in part—of tradition charcoal kilns. Furthermore, there is renewed interest to carbonization, both from a scientific and a commercial point of view, for the production and application of biochar and torrefied biomass. This chapter gives an overview of carbonization, its chemistry, and the physicochemical properties of the resulting products. It also highlights the effects of feedstock properties and process conditions and concludes with an overview of traditional and modern carbonization techniques.