Describing the microwave heating performances of the main constitutes of biomass

Abstract

Biomass is abundant, environmentally friendly, and an important renewable energy source, and it is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The microwave heating performances of the main constitutes of biomass is fundamental for the further applications of microwave-assisted technologies, i.e., pyrolysis, gasification, etc. In this study, the effects of reactor volume (50, 150, and 250 mL), material mass (5, 10, and 15 g), and microwave power (450, 550, and 650 W) on the microwave heating performances of biomass main constitutes (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) were investigated. For cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, the average heating rates varied in the ranges of 1.14–10.50, 1.00–4.03, and 0.44–14.34 oC/s, respectively. Relationships with R2 values of 0.945–1.000 were proposed for forecasting and regulating the real-time temperatures of biomass main constitutes during the heating process.