Biomasses can be considered as important feedstocks for energy processes in regions where agricultural or agro-industrial activities produce significant amounts of this kind of materials. One of the most important applications of such class of materials is its use as solid fuel in combustion. However, there are other types of thermochemical processing that have gained considerable attention in recent years (e.g. gasification, pyrolysis). Pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition occurring in the absence of oxygen. It is an important process itself as well as the first step of other processes as combustion and gasification. Its progress can be divided into four stages: 1) heating of the material and release of free moisture and loosely bound water, 2) dehydration of the biomass leading to the release of H2O and low-molecular-weight gases (e.g. CO, CO2), 3) decomposition of large molecules into char, condensable and non-condensable gases, 4) cracking of volatiles into char and non-condensable gases. The overall process is affected by both physical and chemical feedstock characteristics, and also by other conditions related with its operation. We are analyzing different biomasses from Costa Rica in order to obtain useful parameters to decide their suitability to be used as raw materials for thermochemical processes. Chemical and physical characteristics of this kind of materials are considered. Properties such as composition, morphology, fluid diffusivity, and crystallinity are under study as well as their relation with pyrolysis processes developed using thermogravimetric analysis.

Determination of useful parameters to decide the suitability of a biomass to be used as raw material for thermochemical processes

249th National Meeting (2015)

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