Torrefaction/biochar production by microwave and conventional slow pyrolysis - comparison of energy properties

Mark J. Gronnow; Vitaliy L. Budarin; Ondřej Mašek; Kyle N. Crombie; Peter A. Brownsort; Peter S. Shuttleworth; Peter R. Hurst; James H. Clark

doi:10.1111/gcbb.12021

Torrefaction/biochar production by microwave and conventional slow pyrolysis - comparison of energy properties

Mark J. Gronnow^*, Vitaliy L. Budarin, Ondřej Mašek, Kyle N. Crombie, Peter A. Brownsort, Peter S. Shuttleworth, Peter R. Hurst, James H. Clark

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The energy efficiency of torrefaction/pyrolysis of biomass to fuel/biochar was studied using conventional (slow) and microwave (low temperature) pyrolysis. Conventional pyrolysis is approximately three times as energy efficient as microwave pyrolysis, in terms of the energy required to process a unit of feedstock. However, this is more than compensated for by the higher energy content of the condensable and gaseous coproducts from microwave pyrolysis, as these can be utilized to generate the electricity required to drive the process. It is proposed that the most efficient method of torrefaction/biochar production is a combination of conventional heating with 'catalytic' amount of microwave irradiation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	144-152
Number of pages	9
Journal	Global Change Biology
Volume	5
Issue number	2
Early online date	1 Nov 2012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12021
Publication status	Published - Mar 2013

Keywords

Biochar
Bioenergy
Calorific value
Microwave
Pyrolysis
Torrefaction

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10.1111/gcbb.12021

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title = "Torrefaction/biochar production by microwave and conventional slow pyrolysis - comparison of energy properties",

abstract = "The energy efficiency of torrefaction/pyrolysis of biomass to fuel/biochar was studied using conventional (slow) and microwave (low temperature) pyrolysis. Conventional pyrolysis is approximately three times as energy efficient as microwave pyrolysis, in terms of the energy required to process a unit of feedstock. However, this is more than compensated for by the higher energy content of the condensable and gaseous coproducts from microwave pyrolysis, as these can be utilized to generate the electricity required to drive the process. It is proposed that the most efficient method of torrefaction/biochar production is a combination of conventional heating with 'catalytic' amount of microwave irradiation.",

keywords = "Biochar, Bioenergy, Calorific value, Microwave, Pyrolysis, Torrefaction",

author = "Gronnow, {Mark J.} and Budarin, {Vitaliy L.} and Ond{\v r}ej Ma{\v s}ek and Crombie, {Kyle N.} and Brownsort, {Peter A.} and Shuttleworth, {Peter S.} and Hurst, {Peter R.} and Clark, {James H.}",

year = "2013",

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doi = "10.1111/gcbb.12021",

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T1 - Torrefaction/biochar production by microwave and conventional slow pyrolysis - comparison of energy properties

AU - Gronnow, Mark J.

AU - Budarin, Vitaliy L.

AU - Mašek, Ondřej

AU - Crombie, Kyle N.

AU - Brownsort, Peter A.

AU - Shuttleworth, Peter S.

AU - Hurst, Peter R.

AU - Clark, James H.

PY - 2013/3

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N2 - The energy efficiency of torrefaction/pyrolysis of biomass to fuel/biochar was studied using conventional (slow) and microwave (low temperature) pyrolysis. Conventional pyrolysis is approximately three times as energy efficient as microwave pyrolysis, in terms of the energy required to process a unit of feedstock. However, this is more than compensated for by the higher energy content of the condensable and gaseous coproducts from microwave pyrolysis, as these can be utilized to generate the electricity required to drive the process. It is proposed that the most efficient method of torrefaction/biochar production is a combination of conventional heating with 'catalytic' amount of microwave irradiation.

AB - The energy efficiency of torrefaction/pyrolysis of biomass to fuel/biochar was studied using conventional (slow) and microwave (low temperature) pyrolysis. Conventional pyrolysis is approximately three times as energy efficient as microwave pyrolysis, in terms of the energy required to process a unit of feedstock. However, this is more than compensated for by the higher energy content of the condensable and gaseous coproducts from microwave pyrolysis, as these can be utilized to generate the electricity required to drive the process. It is proposed that the most efficient method of torrefaction/biochar production is a combination of conventional heating with 'catalytic' amount of microwave irradiation.

KW - Biochar

KW - Bioenergy

KW - Calorific value

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Torrefaction/biochar production by microwave and conventional slow pyrolysis - comparison of energy properties

Abstract

Keywords

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