Torrefaction behavior of hot-pressed pellets prepared from leucaena wood

Abstract

In this study, torrefaction behavior of hot-pressed wood pellet prepared at 250 °C and compression pressure of 70 MPa was examined at temperature 260–300 °C. It was found that the torrefaction behavior of hot-pressed pellet (HP) was significantly different from that of Raw and cold-pressed pellet (CP). The mass yield and energy yield for torrefaction at 300 °C and 30 min holding time for HP were 54.5% and 84.4%, respectively. Whereas the mass yield and energy yield for torrefaction at 300 °C and 30 min for Raw were 41.5% and 58.1%, respectively. From the gas formation analysis, it was found that the dehydration and deoxygenation reactions were accelerated to produce a large amount of H2O and CO2 during the torrefaction of HP. It was judged that torrefaction of hot-pressed pellet was very effective to prepare high quality black pellet.