Comparing the Physicochemical Properties of Upgraded Biomass Fuel by Torrefaction and the Ashless Technique

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the influence of torrefaction and an ashless process on the physical and chemical properties of pitch pine sawdust (PSD) and kenaf as types of woody and herbaceous biomass. The physicochemical properties of the materials pretreated by the ashless process with torrefaction including proximate and ultimate analysis, hydrophobicity, grindability, morphology, and structure were analyzed. The results showed that when ashless Kenaf was torrefied, the high heating rate and atomic ratios of O/C and H/C increased. The tendency of the torrefied, ashless Kenaf to absorb water decreased, and it became more hydrophobic (approximately 0% for the uptake rate of moisture). In addition, the grindability of the torrefied, ashless Kenaf was substantially improved compared to that of pretreated PSD. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and scanning electron microscopy results showed that when Kenaf was pretreated, particles easily lost their fibrous structure and cracked as the number of macropores decreased. These results indicate that the herbaceous biomass of Kenaf, when pretreated with both torrefaction and the ashless process, exhibits improved physicochemical properties compared to the woody PSD.