title: Oxidative torrefaction of biomass residues and densification of torrefied sawdust to pellets.
abstract: Oxidative torrefaction of sawdust with a carrier gas containing 3-6% O(2) was investigated in a TG and a fluidized bed reactor, with the properties of the torrefied sawdust and pellets compared with traditional torrefaction without any O(2), as well as the dry raw material. It is found that the oxidative torrefaction process produced torrefied sawdust and pellets of similar properties as normally torrefied sawdust and corresponding pellets, especially on the density, energy consumption for pelletization, higher heating value and energy yield. For moisture absorption and hardness of the torrefied pellets, the oxidative torrefaction process showed slightly poor but negligible performance. Therefore, it is feasible to use oxygen laden combustion flue gases as the carrier gas for torrefaction of biomass. Besides, torrefied sawdust can be made into dense and strong pellets of high hydrophobicity at a higher die temperature than normally used in the production of traditional control pellets.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy and Gas Hydrate, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China.
authors.forename: Congwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaotao T
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Legros
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sokhansanj
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002151:Calorimetry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D010100:Oxygen