Torrefaction of Indonesian Sugar-cane Bagasse to Improve Bio-syngas Quality for Gasification Process

Abstract

Bio-syngas from gasification of sugarcane bagasse is one of the most promising sources for renewable energy. As an ag riculture-based biomass, sugarcane bagasse has a high content of moisture (46-52%), fibrous (43-52%) and low bulk density (80-120 kg/m 3 ). This quality of bagasse will tend to initiate agglomeration and cause de-fluidization. It will disturb the ga sification process and finally will decrease yield and quality of syn-gas. Its chracteristics in low quality can be improved by pretreatment, i. e., torrefaction process, addressed by slow heating of biomass on wet or dry conditions on atmosphere pressure for 1 hour before it is used as feedstock gasification. This preliminary work features an experimental investigation of torrefaction process of Indonesian sugarcane cane bagasse. T emperature of torrefaction varies from 150, 175, 200, 225, 250 and 300 °C. For bagasse gasification process, the optimum te mperature of dry torrefaction is 150 °C. At this temperature, yield of syngas will higher than other torrefaction temperature. Temperature of dry torrefaction will give energy saving opportunities than that’s of wet torrefaction (180 °C, 1 hr). Analysis ultimate and proximate also indicate that sugarcane bagasse with temperature torrefaction 150 °C give better result t han other torrefaction’s temperature in high content of hydrogen and low content of carbon.