The moisture sorption characteristics and modelling of agricultural biomass

The moisture sorption properties of typical biomass samples (tobacco stem, rice husk, wheat straw, cotton stalk, corn straw and rice straw) were investigated under different conditions, and the adsorption kinetics was analysed with pseudo order models. The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was simulated with different models based on biomass property and adsorption process. Results showed that the adsorption process of biomass can be divided into two ranges: rapid adsorption and slow adsorption process. A pseudo-second order model could better describe the moisture sorption process than a pseudo-first order model. Equilibrium moisture content (EMC) mainly depended on biomass type and environmental humidity. A modified Halsey model provided the best fit to EMC of biomass and this model can be used to predict EMC of biomass.