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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The torrefaction is a thermal pre-treatment to
improve biomass quality for biofuel applications. In this
study, the effects of a mild torrefaction (T) on eight euca-
lypt species (
Eucalyptus botryoides, E. globulus, E. grandis,
E. maculata, E. propinqua, E. rudis, E. saligna
and
E. vimi-
nalis
) have been compared. Namely, the mass loss (ML),
the equilibrium moisture content (EMC), density and
chemical composition were determined and FTIR spectra
were recorded of the initial and torrefied woods (TWs). The
average ML was 11% and the heat-treated woods had an
overall 10% density decrement. All the TW had 50% lower
EMC compared to untreated wood samples (W). Elemen-
tal composition showed that carbon content increased
from 48% to 53% and the oxygen/carbon ratio decreased
from 0.80 to 0.65. The chemical changes induced by T
included an increment of extractives, a 20% higher lignin
content and a 16% lower holocellulose content in relation
to W. The hemicelluloses modification is manifested by a
decrease of xylose, galactose, and acetyl groups in TWs.
The fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the different wood species were very similar, and reflected in a
uniform manner the chemical changes upon T. Because of
the similar reaction of the eucalypt species, they can also
be used in form of mixed eucalypt feedstock as biofuel.
Description
Keywords
biomass chemical analysis density elemental analysis Eucalyptus FTIR hemicelluloses mass loss species variability torrefaction wood
Citation
Araújo, S. de O., Neiva, D. M., Gominho, J., Esteves, B., & Pereira, H. (2017). Chemical effects of a mild torrefaction on the wood of eight Eucalyptus species. Holzforschung, 71(4). https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2016-0079
Publisher
De Gruyter