Characterization of Colombian Agroindustrial Biomass Residues as Energy Resources

Abstract

A physical and chemical characterization of three Colombian agricultural biomass residues was carried out to identify promising feedstocks for thermochemical energy production. The three chosen were sugar cane bagasse (SCB), rice husk (RH), and palm kernel shell (PKS). Results showed that SCB, has high volatile material (87.41 wt % daf), lignocellulosic composition high in hemicellulose (29.68 wt % daf) and cellulose (39.81 wt. daf), high alkali index (4.07), and soft morphology; these characteristics make it a good candidate for fast pyrolysis to produce bio-oil and gas. The RH, despite having a lignocellulosic composition similar to SCB, has slightly less volatile matter than SCB (75.73 wt % daf), a soft morphological structure, and high ash content (19.33 wt %) mainly of noncatalytic species, all of which make RH unattractive for pyrolysis; however, its fixed carbon content makes it very interesting for combustion and gasification processes. On the other hand, the PKS is the biomass with the highest content of fixed carbon (22.78 wt % daf) and lignin (58.30 wt %); its hard structure, low ash content (2.67 wt %), and high lignin content make it most suitable for high-temperature processes like combustion and gasification processes.

Evaluation of Press Mud, Vinasse Powder and Extraction Sludge with Ethanol in a Pyrolysis Process

“…Vinasse powder has the highest HHV, which is similar to reported values for bagasse (18.9 MJ/kg [24]) and other lignocellulosic wastes like rice husk (14.09 MJ/kg) and palm kernel shell (18.96 MJ/kg) [28]. In addition, the vinasse powder has the highest proportion of volatile material, implying higher yields of light bio-oil fractions and gas [28]. As mentioned before, the press mud and the extraction sludge present the highest ash content, which adversely affects the high heating value, while the vinasse powder has an ash content of 20.56%, which is in the range of feedstock material for pyrolysis and gasification processes [24].…”

“…Vinasse powder has the highest HHV, which is similar to reported values for bagasse (18.9 MJ/kg [24]) and other lignocellulosic wastes like rice husk (14.09 MJ/kg) and palm kernel shell (18.96 MJ/kg) [28]. In addition, the vinasse powder has the highest proportion of volatile material, implying higher yields of light bio-oil fractions and gas [28].…”

“…It can be seen in Table 2 that the lignin content for press mud, powder vinasse, and extraction sludge is high in proportion to the cellulose and hemicellulose, while bagasse is high in cellulose and hemicellulose [28]. A higher lignin content relates to the formation of increased bio-char yield during pyrolysis.…”

“…The high organic content in dried vinasse as well as in press mud, and their high availability (only in Colombia, the annual press mud and concentrated vinasse-40% to 55% solids-production can be estimated in 1.4 million tons and 2.7 million tons per year, respectively [2,5,27,28]) suggest an interesting opportunity for these biomass wastes to be used as feedstock in a thermochemical valorization process. Therefore, the objective of this work is to describe a non-catalysed slow pyrolysis study using a batch reactor unit and three biomass waste samples produced in an industrial sugar and bio-ethanol plant.…”

Gasification of coal, Chenopodium Album biomass, and co-gasification of a coal-biomass mixture by thermogravimetric-gas analysis

“…The increase in CO2 is commonly observed in tests with ER equal to 0.4 [46], and the presence of oxygen in the biomass [11]. Using air as a gasifying agent does not enhance the concentration of hydrogen since it does not promote the reactions R6 and R8; therefore, the reaction of methanation (R7) becomes irrelevant, but the formation of CO2 is favored [20,41].…”