title: Chemical torrefaction as an alternative to established thermal technology for stabilisation of sugar cane bagasse as fuel.
abstract: Dry and chemical torrefaction of sugar cane bagasse was examined in this study with the aim of stabilising and upgrading the fuel properties of bagasse. Dry torrefaction was conducted at temperatures from 160°C to 300°C under inert conditions, whilst chemical torrefaction incorporated a H2SO4pre-treatment of bagasse. Chemical torrefaction imparted superior chemical and physical properties inducing morphological transformation and textural development with the potential to address issues in handling, feeding and processing bagasse. It increased the energy density of the chars with maximum HHVmass21.5 MJ/kg and maximum HHVvolumeof 7.4 GJ/m3. Chemically torrefied bagasse demonstrated resistance against microbiological attack for 18 months. These features demonstrate the practical value of chemical torrefaction in advancing the utilisation of bagasse as fuel.
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valix
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katyal
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D006358:Hot Temperature; D031786:Saccharum; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D002482:Cellulose; C027433:bagasse; C033158:sulfuric acid
keywords: Bagasse; biological stability; chemical torrefaction; dry torrefaction; heating value