The aim of this study
is to investigate the reduction of tar produced
during biomass pyrolysis by torrefaction pretreatment. In this study,
various biomass feedstocks (pine, ash wood, miscanthus, and wheat
straw) with different particle sizes were torrefied at 280 °C.
The results indicated that both particle size and biomass composition
have a significant effect on the yield and properties of the torrefied
products. With increasing particle size, the yield of solid product
increased, while the yield of condensable liquid and noncondensable
gases decreased. The raw biomasses and torrefied biomasses were then
subjected to pyrolysis at 500 °C. The results clearly showed
that torrefaction had a significant effect on the yield and composition
of tar generated during subsequent pyrolysis. For all biomasses, the
tar yields of biomasses after torrefaction were 42–62% lower
compared to direct pyrolysis of raw biomasses. However, when considering
the condensable liquid produced combining torrefaction and pyrolysis,
the total yield of condensable liquid produced decreased 3–12%
compared to the direct pyrolysis. This suggests that not only some
volatiles were released during the torrefaction process, but the thermal
pretreatment also transformed the biomass structure to less favor
tar production in subsequent pyrolysis step.
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