Thermal Analysis Technologies for Biomass Feedstocks: A State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract

An effective analytical technique for biomass characterisation is inevitable for biomass utilisation in energy production. To improve biomass processing, various thermal conversion methods such as torrefaction, pyrolysis, combustion, hydrothermal liquefaction, and gasification have been widely used to improve biomass processing. Thermogravimetric analysers (TG) and gas chromatography (GC) are among the most fundamental analytical techniques utilised in biomass thermal analysis. Thus, GC and TG, in combination with MS, FTIR, or two-dimensional analysis, were used to examine the key parameters of biomass feedstock and increase the productivity of energy crops. We can also determine the optimal ratio for combining two separate biomass or coals during co-pyrolysis and co-gasification to achieve the best synergetic relationship. This review discusses thermochemical conversion processes such as torrefaction, combustion, hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification. Then, the thermochemical conversion of biomass using TG and GC is discussed in detail. The usual emphasis on the various applications of biomass or bacteria is also discussed in the comparison of the TG and GC. Finally, this study investigates the application of technologies for analysing the composition and developed gas from the thermochemical processing of biomass feedstocks.

Improving the toughness and flame retardancy of poly (lactic acid) with phosphorus‐containing core‐shell particles

“…A thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA Q600, TA Instruments, USA) was used to study the thermal stability of samples. The specimens were heated from 40 to 600°C with a heating rate of 20°C/min in a nitrogen flow of 50 ml/min 38 …”

Polystyrene nanospheres coated red phosphorus flame retardant for polyamide 66

“…Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was performed on an STA 449 F3 Jupiter (NETZSCH, Germany) at a heating rate of 10°C min −1 from 30°C to 800°C under a nitrogen atmosphere at a flow rate of 50 ml min −1 . The PSNS@RP weight was 50 mg for each measurement 35 …”

“…The PSNS@RP weight was 50 mg for each measurement. 35 The flame retardance was evaluated by LOI values and a UL-94. LOI values were measured on an HC-2C oxygen index meter (Jiangning, China) with a sheet dimension of 130 Â 13 Â 3.2 mm 3 according to ASTM D2863-97.…”

Biomass and Energy Production: Thermochemical Methods

“…Thermochemical conversion is defined as the degradation of organic matters due to heat exposition of biomass and chemical reactions. The process is mainly categorized in some processes named combustion, torrefaction, gasification, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal [17,18]. In the thermochemical conversion of biomass, heat and catalysts are applied to transform biopolymers of biomass into biofuels and other valuable chemical components [19].…”

“…The hydrothermal conversion process is a suitable technology especially for wet biomass into bio-fuel which is defined as a thermochemical transformation of biomass in high temperatures (100-700°C) and high pressures (5-40 MPa) in a liquid media or hot supercritical water [25]. In hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) as an important hydrothermal process, raised temperatures (200-350°C) and high pressures (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) in the presence of solvent (sub−/super-critical water) applied to boost biomass decomposition and reformation to produce bio-crude (as the main output) bio-char, water-soluble organic polar fractions and gaseous [26][27][28]. During the HTL process, several complex mechanisms such as hydrolysis activate which degrade biomass macromolecules and then decompose them into smaller components to reactive fragments by bond cleavage and several reactions such as dehydration, dehydrogenation, deoxygenation, and decarboxylation while some complex chemicals such as bio-crude produce through depolymerization [29][30][31].…”