Chemical composition change in cellulosic biomasses after their torrefaction


  • Godin, B. , Masy, T. , Hecq, O. , Agneessens, R. & Delcarte, J. (2020). Chemical composition change in cellulosic biomasses after their torrefaction. Poster in: 25th National Symposium for Applied Biological Sciences, Gembloux, Belgium, 31 January 2020.
Type Poster
Year 2020
Title Chemical composition change in cellulosic biomasses after their torrefaction
Event name 25th National Symposium for Applied Biological Sciences
Event location Gembloux, Belgium
Event date 31 January 2020
Abstract The outlook of torrefying cellulosic biomasses is to be able to produce a renewable fuel under the form of pellets comparable to mineral coal, both in terms of energy density and physicochemical characteristics. In addition, it aims to replace fossil coal with a renewable fuel. The objective of our study is to assess the content change of the main chemical components (Lignin, Cellulose, Hemicelluloses, Solubles Sugars, Starch, Proteins and Mineral compounds) induced by torrefaction (at 270°C until a 25% loss of dry weight) in cellulosic biomasses (Bamboo, Spruce, Tall fescue, Corn and Sorghum). In addition, we assessed the suitability of the Van Soest method that is usually used to determine the content of lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses in forage biomasses to be used with torrefied biomasses. Our results show that torrefaction enables to have biomasses with a more standardized chemical composition and lower water content. A drawback of torrefaction is to concentrate the content of mineral compounds. The observed changes in chemical composition suggest that cellulosic biomasses use for torrefaction should have high contents of lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses and a low content of mineral compounds. In contrary to cellulosic biomasses, it is necessary in torrefied biomasses to determine the protein content in the NDF, ADF and ADL Van Soest fractions to subtract it from each respective fraction to avoid biased Van Soest values of the lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses contents. This is necessary for a higher degree of accuracy of the total mass balance of torrefied biomasses.
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Authors Godin, B., Masy, T., Hecq, O., Agneessens, R., Delcarte, J.