title: Structural and chemical modifications of typical South African biomasses during torrefaction.
abstract: Torrefaction experiments were carried out for three typical South African biomass samples (softwood chips, hardwood chips and sweet sorghum bagasse) to a weight loss of 30 wt.%. During torrefaction, moisture, non-structural carbohydrates and hemicelluloses were reduced, resulting in a structurally modified torrefaction product. There was a reduction in the average crystalline diameter (La) (XRD), an increase in the aromatic fraction and a reduction in aliphatics (substituted and unsubstituted) (CPMAS (13)C NMR). The decrease in the aliphatic components of the lignocellulosic material under the torrefaction conditions also resulted in a slight ordering of the carbon lattice. The degradation of hemicelluloses and non-structural carbohydrates increased the inclusive surface area of sweet sorghum bagasse, while it did not change significantly for the woody biomasses.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lihle D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Mafu
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, Private Bag X6001, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa. Electronic address: Hein.Neomagus@nwu.ac.za.
authors.forename: Hein W J P
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Neomagus
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, Private Bag X6001, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
authors.forename: Raymond C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Everson
authors.affiliation: Aston University, EBRI, Bioenergy Research Group, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrier
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christien A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Strydom
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, Private Bag X6001, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bunt
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D045868:Sorghum / Q000737:chemistry; D013019:South Africa; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; C036909:lignocellulose; D002244:Carbon; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; C027433:bagasse
keywords: Biomass; CP-MAS (13)C NMR; Torrefaction; XRD