Investigation of forestry wastes: Torrefaction and their thermal properties for use in energy recovery schemes

ABSTRACT

Three biomasses like Eucalyptus, Azadirachata, and Ficus religiosa were torrefied to investigate the effect of temperature and residence time was investigated on torrefied biomasses for yield, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash, and Gross calorific value (GCV). Thermogravimetric analysis and Hardgrove grindability index (HGI) of three torrefied samples were studied at optimum conditions of temperature and residence time. According to the results, an optimum temperature was found to be 260°C at 45 min residence time. A maximum GCV of torrefied biomasses of Eucalyptus, Azadirachata, and F. religiosa were found to be 4,301, 3,190, and 3,278 kcal/kg, respectively. According to thermogravimetric analyzer results, the Azadirachata has shown higher weight loss compared to Eucalyptus and F. religiosa during thermogravimetirc study. The weight loss rate for Azadirachata was maximum to nearly 12.8%/min compared to 6.11 and 5.12%/min for Eucalyptus and F. religiosa, respectively. The order of reactivity based on mean reactivity and combustion characterization factor was found to be Azadirachata indica > Eucalyptus > F. religiosa. According to HGI results, Eucalyptus, Azadirachata, and F. religiosa have shown HGI values of 71, 60.7, and 81.7, respectively. The results of this study could be useful for the energy recovery schemes in the country.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass
• Hardgrove grind ability index
• proximate analyses
• thermogravimetric analysis
• torrefaction