Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets

Safa Arous, Ahmed Koubaa, Hassine Bouafif, Besma Bouslimi, Flavia Lega Braghiroli and Chedly Bradai
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Safa Arous: Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. University, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, Canada
Ahmed Koubaa: Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. University, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, Canada
Hassine Bouafif: Centre Technologique des Résidus Industriels (CTRI), Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E5, Canada
Besma Bouslimi: Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. University, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, Canada
Flavia Lega Braghiroli: Centre Technologique des Résidus Industriels (CTRI), Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E5, Canada
Chedly Bradai: National Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: Thermal treatments such as torrefaction and fast pyrolysis are commonly employed methods to produce biofuels with high-energetic properties. In this study, wood chips were heat-treated at different temperatures of torrefaction (315 °C) and fast pyrolysis (400 and 454 °C) to form energetic pellets. Three softwoods, jack pine (JP), balsam fir (BF), and black spruce (BS), were evaluated. Pellets are produced using 20% moisture content and 15% pyrolytic lignin as a binder. Untreated- and treated-wood residues were characterized by surface chemistry, elemental analysis, and chemical composition, whereas all pellets were characterized in terms of density, high heat value (HHV), and durability. Results showed that both thermal treatments caused significant changes in the physicochemical structure of wood residues. Using temperatures higher than 315 °C leads to the disappearance of hydroxyl groups, a decrease in oxygen and hydrogen contents, and an increase in carbon content. Regardless of the treatment temperature, pellets made from heat-treated JP had the best durability (93%). In contrast, the calorific values of wood-treated pellets reached up to 31 MJ/kg, compared to untreated-wood pellets (19 MJ/kg). Thus, the densification of the thermal-treated wood residues represents a potential approach for producing biofuels with high energetic value.

Keywords: thermal treatment; fast pyrolysis; torrefaction; wood residues; pyrolytic lignin; pellets; durability; calorific value (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 (4)

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