Torrefaction and Thermochemical Properties of Agriculture Residues

Javaid Akhtar, Muhammad Imran, Arshid Mahmood Ali, Zeeshan Nawaz, Ayyaz Muhammad, Rehan Khalid Butt, Maria Shahid Jillani and Hafiz Amir Naeem
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Javaid Akhtar: Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Muhammad Imran: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Technology and Innovation Center, Riyadh 11551, Saudi Arabia
Arshid Mahmood Ali: Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Zeeshan Nawaz: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Technology and Innovation Center, Riyadh 11551, Saudi Arabia
Ayyaz Muhammad: Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Rehan Khalid Butt: Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Maria Shahid Jillani: Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Hafiz Amir Naeem: Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: In this study, the densification of three agriculture waste biomasses (corn cobs, cotton stalks, and sunflower) is investigated using the torrefaction technique. The samples were pyrolyzed under mild temperature conditions (200–320 °C) and at different residence times (10 min–60 min). The thermal properties of the obtained bio-char samples were analyzed via thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). Compositional analysis of the torrefied samples was also carried out to determine the presence of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin contents. According to the results of this study, optimum temperature conditions were found to be 260 °C–300 °C along with a residence time of 20 min–30 min. Based on the composition analysis, it was found that biochar contains more lignin and celluloses and lower hemicellulose contents than do the original samples. The removal of volatile hemicelluloses broke the interlocking of biomass building blocks, rendering biochar brittle, grindable, and less reactive. The results of this study would be helpful in bettering our understanding of the conversion of agricultural waste residues into valuable, solid biofuels for use in energy recovery schemes. The optimum temperature condition, residence time, and GCV for torrefied corn cobs were found to be 290 °C, 20 min, and 5444 kcal/kg, respectively. The optimum temperature condition, residence time, and GCV for torrefied cotton balls were found to be 270 °C, 30 min, and 4481 Kcal/kg, respectively. In the case of sunflower samples, the mass yield of the torrefied sample decreased from 85% to 71% by increasing the residence time from 10 min to 60 min, respectively.

Keywords: torrefaction; thermochemical properties; biowaste to fuel; biomass; thermogravimetric analysis; agriculture residue (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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