| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4513179 | Industrial Crops and Products | 2014 | 6 Pages |
•Biomass from Conservation Reserve Program was studied in torrefaction upgrading.•Polymer composition study first revealed how torrefaction affects polysaccharides.•Torrefaction together with pelleting processing benefits biomass logistics.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which was initiated to prevent soil erosion, provides a large amount of cellulosic biomass that is potentially useful for bioenergy production. We investigated the effects of torrefaction conditions on the physicochemical properties of CRP biomass using an elemental analyzer, a thermogravimetric analyzer, and a calorimeter. Results suggest that the upgraded biomass is a hydrophobic, high-energy density, and low-moisture-content material. The study on biomass polymer composition showed how polymer components changed with processing conditions. The polysaccharides in biomass were degraded significantly at 300 °C, suggesting that processing conditions should be managed properly for sugar or energy recovery. Our economic analysis suggested that the processing cost for a torrefaction plant with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons of CRP biomass is $16.3 per ton of feedstock. Further analysis of the effects of torrefaction on the biomass supply chain suggested that processing could save pelletization and transportation costs.
