Fundamental Study on the Production of Woody Biomass Fuel Using Hydrothermal Treatment

Abstract

Woody biomass (Acacia Mangium) which contains 43 % (dry basis) of oxygen was converted by treatment in liquid water at temperature ranging from 270 to 350 ℃ , pressures 8.3 to 18.4 MPa, and holding time 10 minutes using an autoclave of 10 l capacity. At these reaction conditions a significant proportion of the oxygen was removed and the oxygen content of the solid product became 14-24 %. Oxygen removal increased the carbon content and the heating value, leading to a product with more sub-bituminous and bituminous coal-like properties. This solid product having heating values of 6,900-7,160 kcal / kg (dry basis) is an excellent fuel because of its higher volatile matter content, low sulfur and low ash. After cooling down the reaction mixture to ambient temperatures, the liquid product containing the organic components was dissolved in the process water. It is composed of mainly methyl alcohol, acetic acid, components derived from cellulose and hemi-cellulose such as 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde and furfural, and lignin components such as 2, 6-dimethoxy-phenol and guaiacol. The mechanism of the conversion process is discussed through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Spectroscopy analysis results.

The Hot Compressed Water Treatment of Solid Waste Material from the Sugar Industry for Valuable Chemical Production

“…Furthermore, it enhances hydrolysis reactions and decomposes lignocellulosic polymer into useful chemicals that are dissolved into the liquid product (Kumagai et al 2004;Yan et al 2009;Yuliansyah et al 2010;Yin, Pan, and Tan 2011) leaving a solid product with high caloric value (Hirajima et al 2003;Inoue, Hanaoka, and Minowa 2002;Yuliansyah et al 2010).…”