Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. Water vapor adsorption on torrefied corn stoverPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: 2012 Dallas, Texas, July 29 - August 1, 2012 121337123.(doi:10.13031/2013.41745)Authors: Dorde Medic, Matthew Darr, Ajay Shah, Sarah Rahn Keywords: equilibrium moisture content, torrefaction, microbial degradation, corn stover, hydrophobicity The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of biomass affects transportation, storage, downstream feedstock processing, and the overall economy of biorenewables production. Torrefaction is a thermochemical process conducted in the temperature regime between 200 and 300C under an inert atmosphere that, among other benefits, aims to reduce the innate hydrophilicity and susceptibility to microbial degradation of biomass. The EMC of raw corn stover, along with corn stover thermally pretreated at three temperatures, was measured using the static gravimetric method at equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and temperatures ranging from 10 to 98% and from 10 to 40C, respectively. Microbial degradation of the samples was tested at 97% ERH and 30C. Fiber analyses were conducted on all samples. In general, torrefied biomass showed an EMC lower than raw biomass, which implied an increase in hydrophobicity. Corn stover torrefied at 250 and 300C had negligible dry matter mass loss due to microbial degradation. Fiber analysis showed a significant decrease in hemicellulose content with the increase in pretreatment temperature, which might be the reason for the hydrophobic nature of torrefied biomass. The outcomes of this work can be used for torrefaction process optimization, and decision-making regarding raw and torrefied biomass storage and downstream processing. (Download PDF) (Export to EndNotes)
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