Abstract
Large scale biofuel production will be possible only if significant quantities of biomass feedstock can be stored, transported, and processed in an economic and sustainable manner. Torrefaction has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of transportation, storage, and downstream processing through the improvement of physical and chemical characteristics of biomass. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of particle size, plant components, and gas residence time on the production of torrefied corn (Zea mays) stover. Different particle sizes included 0.85 mm and 20 mm. Different stover components included ground corn stover, whole corn stalk, stalk shell and pith, and corn cob shell. Three different purge gas residence times were employed to assess the effects of interaction of volatiles and torrefied biomass. Elemental analyses were performed on all of the samples, and the data obtained was used to estimate the energy contents and energy yields of different torrefied biomass samples. Particle density, elemental composition, and fiber composition of raw biomass fractions were also determined. Stalk pith torrefied at 280 °C and stalk shell torrefied at 250 °C had highest and lowest dry matter loss, of about 44% and 13%, respectively. Stalk pith torrefied at 250 °C had lowest energy density of about 18–18.5 MJ/kg, while cob shell torrefied at 280 °C had the highest energy density of about 21.5 MJ/kg. The lowest energy yield, at 59%, was recorded for stalk pith torrefied at 280 °C, whereas cob and stalk shell torrefied at 250 °C had highest energy yield at 85%. These differences were a consequence of the differences in particle densities, hemicellulose quantities, and chemical properties of the original biomass samples. Gas residence time did not have a significant effect on the aforementioned parameters.
Highlights
Transportation fuels produced from lignocellulosic biomass have recently gained attention due to their positive effects on fossil fuel displacement, greenhouse gas emission reduction, rural development, and national security enhancement
Under these conditions the torrefaction reaction might be localized in the stalk shell of whole stover, but it is sufficient to cause DML similar to the smallest particle size
The effects of corn stover particle size and fraction type, as well as gas residence times on torrefaction were investigated through the analysis of DML, energy yield, and chemical properties of torrefied biomass
Summary
Transportation fuels produced from lignocellulosic biomass have recently gained attention due to their positive effects on fossil fuel displacement, greenhouse gas emission reduction, rural development, and national security enhancement. Of 2007 mandates an increase in the minimum annual quantity of renewable fuels used in the United. As per the EISA mandate, out of the total renewable fuels produced in 2022, 79 billion liters should be advanced biofuels derived mainly from cellulosic feedstock, which does not compete with food production [1]. Large amounts of lignocellulosic biomass have to be collected, stored, and processed to support biofuels production at levels demanded by EISA. Thermochemical pathways employ higher temperatures and/or pressures than biochemical pathways, they have numerous advantages, such as higher reaction rates, fewer feedstock pretreatment requirements, and an easier integration with the existing fossil fuel production infrastructure
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