Selective Microwave Pretreatment of Biomass Mixtures for Sustainable Energy Production

Raimonds Valdmanis () and Maija Zake ()
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Raimonds Valdmanis: Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Latvia, Miera Street 32, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Maija Zake: Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Latvia, Miera Street 32, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: Methods for the improvement of regional lignocellulosic resources (wood and agriculture waste) were studied and analyzed using blends with optimized compositions and a selective pretreatment of the blends using microwaves to enhance their thermochemical conversion and energy production efficiency. A batch-size pilot device was used to provide the thermochemical conversion of biomass blends of different compositions, analyzing the synergy of the effects of thermal and chemical interaction between the components on the yield and thermochemical conversion of volatiles, responsible for producing heat energy at various stages of flame formation. To control the thermal decomposition of the biomass, improving the flame characteristics and the produced heat, a selective pretreatment of blends using microwaves (2.45 GHz) was achieved by varying the temperature of microwave pretreatment. Assessing correlations between changes in the main characteristics of pretreated blends (elemental composition and heating value) on the produced heat and composition of products suggests that selective MW pretreatment of biomass blends activates synergistic effects of thermal and chemical interaction, enhancing the yield and combustion of volatiles with a correlating increase in produced heat energy, thus promoting the wider use of renewable biomass resources for sustainable energy production by limiting the use of fossil fuels for heat-energy production and the formation of GHG emissions.

Keywords: microwave pretreatment; biomass combustion; thermochemical conversion; wood pellets; straw pellets (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: 2025
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