Biomass Size Reduction Machines for Enhancing Biogas Production

Abstract

Biofuel technology seems to be a promising method for economically and environmentally prospective treatments of lignocellulosic wastes from various branches like food processing, forestry, or agriculture. Factors like the lignin content, crystallinity of cellulose, and particle size, limit the digestibility of hemicellulose and cellulose present in lignocelluloses. Biomass size reduction is a mechanical treatment process which due to increasing of the accessible surface area and decreasing of cellulose crystallinity improves the digestibility and the conversion of saccharides during hydrolysis. Informations about equipment design parameters and energy requirements are reviewed in relation to initial and final particle sizes, bulk density, and moisture content in biomass.

Soybean Straw, Corn Stover and Sunflower Stalk as Possible Substrates for Biogas Production in Croatia: A Review

“…However, it is also a crucial step which greatly contributes to the increase in hydrolysis efficiency and consequently higher biogas yields 59,60 It could be carried out easily by mills or shredders in every agro-biogas plant. 61 The energy requirements of mechanical pretreatment depend on the type of the mill, initial and final particle sizes, material characteristics (amount, composition and moisture content).…”

“…62 The choice of the right comminution device depends particularly on the moisture content in the material. 60 Colloid mills and extruders are suitable for comminuting of wet materials with moisture contents of more than 15-20 % (wet basis), while different milling devices (hammer mills, knife mills, two-roll mills, attrition mills) are suitable for comminuting of dry materials with moisture contents of up to 10-15 % (wet basis). The ball or vibratory ball mills, as universal types of comminuting devices, can be used for either dry or wet materials.…”

Midwest vision for sustainable fuel production

“…Size-reduction is needed to increase the specific surface area so that conversion can take place more rapidly and with higher yields. Size-reduction is typically a multi-step process where initial gross size-reduction to 10-30 mm is followed by final size-reduction to 0.2-2 mm [19,29]. Gross size-reduction of baled biomass is typically accomplished with a hammer mill or horizontal grinder.…”

Energy‐Efficient Size Reduction Technology for Wet Fibrous Biomass Treatment in Industrial Biofuel Technologies

“…Thus, an increase in biogas production by 50 % was observed. Kratky and Jirout [3] tested the impact of milling in a retting mill on size reduction of wheat straw. Milled straw was thermal-expansionary-treated [4] and the impacts of both these pretreatments on biogas yield were evaluated.…”

“…1) and on decrease in power consumption for batch mixing (Fig. 2), the major disadvantage of its use is its high energy requirement [6] that corresponds to up to 33 % of the total electrical demand [7]. Energy requirement generally rises with higher moisture content [8] and with a reduction in the final particle size [9].…”