Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets
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. T...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/20/6529 |
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| author | Safa Arous Ahmed Koubaa Hassine Bouafif Besma Bouslimi Flavia Lega Braghiroli Chedly Bradai |
| author_facet | Safa Arous Ahmed Koubaa Hassine Bouafif Besma Bouslimi Flavia Lega Braghiroli Chedly Bradai |
| author_sort | Safa Arous |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:36:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8cd6fc0b3fd4f17a3abdf214c1fcd12 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:36:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8cd6fc0b3fd4f17a3abdf214c1fcd122023-11-22T18:04:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-10-011420652910.3390/en14206529Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar PelletsSafa Arous0Ahmed Koubaa1Hassine Bouafif2Besma Bouslimi3Flavia Lega Braghiroli4Chedly Bradai5Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. University, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, CanadaInstitut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. University, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, CanadaCentre Technologique des Résidus Industriels (CTRI), Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E5, CanadaInstitut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. University, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, CanadaCentre Technologique des Résidus Industriels (CTRI), Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E5, CanadaNational Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, TunisiaThermal 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/20/6529thermal treatmentfast pyrolysistorrefactionwood residuespyrolytic ligninpellets |
| spellingShingle | Safa Arous Ahmed Koubaa Hassine Bouafif Besma Bouslimi Flavia Lega Braghiroli Chedly Bradai Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets Energies thermal treatment fast pyrolysis torrefaction wood residues pyrolytic lignin pellets |
| title | Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets |
| title_full | Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets |
| title_short | Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Wood Species on the Properties of Biochar Pellets |
| title_sort | effect of pyrolysis temperature and wood species on the properties of biochar pellets |
| topic | thermal treatment fast pyrolysis torrefaction wood residues pyrolytic lignin pellets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/20/6529 |
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