TY - JOUR
T1 - An experimental analysis on property and structure variations of agricultural wastes undergoing torrefaction
AU - Chen, Wei Hsin
AU - Lu, Ke Miao
AU - Tsai, Chi Ming
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Science Council, Taiwan, ROC, on this study.
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Three agricultural wastes, consisting of coffee residue, sawdust and rice husk, undergoing torrefaction are investigated to evaluate the potential of biomass as solid fuel. Two different torrefaction temperatures (240 and 270°C) and durations (0.5 and 1h) are considered in the study, and the properties and structures of the raw and torrefied wastes are extensively investigated by means of proximate, elemental, fiber, calorific, thermogravimetric, SEM and FTIR analyses. A high-volatile bituminous coal and a low-volatile one are also regarded for comparison. By virtue of more hemicellulose contained in the coffee residue, it is the most active biomass to torrefaction and its higher heating value (HHV) is improved up to 38%. The empirical atomic formula of the raw wastes is expressed by CH1.54-1.76O0.65-0.89 and it changes to CH1.02-1.57O0.26-0.64 after undergoing torrefaction. The torrefied biomasses approach high-volatile coal when the torrefaction temperature and duration increase. From fuel point of view, the improved properties and changed molecular structure are conducive to the applications of biomass in industrial furnaces such as boilers and blast furnaces.
AB - Three agricultural wastes, consisting of coffee residue, sawdust and rice husk, undergoing torrefaction are investigated to evaluate the potential of biomass as solid fuel. Two different torrefaction temperatures (240 and 270°C) and durations (0.5 and 1h) are considered in the study, and the properties and structures of the raw and torrefied wastes are extensively investigated by means of proximate, elemental, fiber, calorific, thermogravimetric, SEM and FTIR analyses. A high-volatile bituminous coal and a low-volatile one are also regarded for comparison. By virtue of more hemicellulose contained in the coffee residue, it is the most active biomass to torrefaction and its higher heating value (HHV) is improved up to 38%. The empirical atomic formula of the raw wastes is expressed by CH1.54-1.76O0.65-0.89 and it changes to CH1.02-1.57O0.26-0.64 after undergoing torrefaction. The torrefied biomasses approach high-volatile coal when the torrefaction temperature and duration increase. From fuel point of view, the improved properties and changed molecular structure are conducive to the applications of biomass in industrial furnaces such as boilers and blast furnaces.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.05.056
DO - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.05.056
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84867739587
SN - 0306-2619
VL - 100
SP - 318
EP - 325
JO - Applied Energy
JF - Applied Energy
ER -