Torrefied biomass samples were produced from hardwood and switchgrass pellets using the biochar experimenter's kit (BEK) reactor and analyzed for their utility as pretreated feedstock for biofuels production via the fast pyrolysis. Pyrolysis of the torrefied solid using the micro py-GC/MS system at 550 oC shows significant reduction in oxygenated compounds particularly carboxylic acids supporting some reported conclusions that such pretreatment has the potential to reduce the oxygenated compounds in pyrolysis oil that are responsible for its instability. The same py-GC/MS analysis on permanent, non-condensable gases shows a reduction in CO2 and increased light hydrocarbon gases between C1-C4 range indicating production of increasingly energy rich syngas with extent of torrefaction.

Pyrolysis-GC/MS of biomass thermally pretreated by torrefaction

244th National Meeting (2012)

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