Effect of Evolution of Carbon Structure during Torrefaction in Woody Biomass on Thermal Degradation

Peng Liu (), Panpan Lang, Ailing Lu, Yanling Li, Xueqin Li, Tanglei Sun, Yantao Yang, Hui Li and Tingzhou Lei ()
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Peng Liu: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Panpan Lang: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Ailing Lu: Changzhou Key Laboratory of Biomass Green-Safe & High Value Utilization Technology, Changzhou 213164, China
Yanling Li: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Xueqin Li: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Tanglei Sun: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Yantao Yang: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Hui Li: State Key Laboratory of Utilization of Woody Oil Resource, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410004, China
Tingzhou Lei: National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biomass Refining and High-Quality Utilization, Institute of Urban and Rural Mining, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Torrefaction is an effective method for upgrading biomass. Cedar torrefaction is carried out in a fixed bed reactor at the temperature of 200–300 °C. The structural parameters are obtained from elemental analysis and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Thermal degradation behavior of raw and torrefied cedar is monitored by thermogravimetry analysis. The results show that carbon structure varied during torrefaction has a significant effect on thermal degradation of cedar. Some unstable oxygen functional groups, such as C1 of hemicellulose, β-O-4 linked bonds, and amorphous C6 of cellulose, are decomposed at mild torrefaction of torrefied temperature ≤ 200 °C. The temperature of maximum weight loss rate increases from 348 °C of raw cedar to 373 °C of C-200. The amorphous cellulose is partly re-crystallized at moderate torrefaction of torrefied temperature 200–250 °C. The aromaticity of torrefied cedar increases from 0.45 of C-200 to 0.73 of C-250. The covalent bond in the side chain of aromatic rings in cedar was further broken during torrefaction at severe torrefaction of torrefied temperature 250–300 °C. The area percentage of DTG mainly signed at 387 °C of C-300. The proton aromatic carbon increases from 12.35% of C-250 to 21.69% of C-300. These results will further facilitate the utilization of biomass for replacing fossil fuel to drive carbon neutrality.

Keywords: torrefaction; thermal degradation; carbon structure; biomass; oxygen functional group; DTG (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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