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Advancements in Thermochemical Modification of Wood for Bioenergy and Biomaterial Applications

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Practices and Perspectives in Sustainable Bioenergy

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

This chapter explores recent work related to thermochemical modification of low-value woody biomass to produce high-value products for use in bioenergy and biofuel applications. Through thermochemical modification (i.e., pretreatment), woody biomass can be transformed into materials that have higher calorific values and improved electrical properties. In this chapter, advancements in research related to torrefaction and carbonization (i.e., pyrolysis) are discussed, along with the development of densified torrefied pellets and carbon materials. Torrefaction of woody biomass is a less severe thermochemical treatment that results in higher-value materials that can be used in energy applications as a substitute for coal and as a filler material for composites. To advance the use of torrefied woody biomass as a coal replacement fuel, densification technology is a key for improving storage and transportation. This chapter explores some key processing variables and their relationship to pellet quality. In addition, the relative carbon content of woody biomass is increased through pyrolysis. These carbonized materials can be used for fuel cells, energy storage, and as a filler and potential reinforcement in a variety of composite materials. During pyrolysis of wood, the porosity of the resulting material increases. In general, porous carbon materials are classified as microporous (<2 nm), mesoporous (2–50 nm), and macroporous (>50 nm) based on their pore diameters. This chapter focuses on research related to mesoporous carbon that has the ability to provide fast mass transport of molecules and large specific surface areas. These two properties are essential in many advanced energy storage and conversion applications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, School of Natural Resources, Davis College, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

    David B. DeVallance, Xinfeng Xie, Tianmiao Wang & Jingxin Wang

  2. InnoRenew CoE and University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia

    David B. DeVallance

  3. College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA

    Xinfeng Xie

Authors
  1. David B. DeVallance
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  2. Xinfeng Xie
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  3. Tianmiao Wang
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  4. Jingxin Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David B. DeVallance .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, USA

    Madhumi Mitra

  2. Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, USA

    Abhijit Nagchaudhuri

Critical Thinking Questions

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. 1.

    Pelleting and briquetting techniques have been used to densify woody biomass for many decades in the USA. Are there newer and less energy-intensive processes that may be adapted for densifying woody biomass?

  2. 2.

    Uses of torrefied woody biomass have primarily been limited to energy-related applications as a substitute for coal. Given the inherent properties of torrefied wood material, what other potential value-added applications could exist for torrefied biomass?

  3. 3.

    What role do wood pellets and carbonized materials play in the context of bioenergy and bioproduct development under a systems thinking approach?

  4. 4.

    Could woody biomass-derived carbon materials be made strong enough for structural applications?

  5. 5.

    What are the factors that affect the physical and chemical properties of the final products during thermochemical treatment of woody biomass?

Glossary

Bulk density

“Mass per unit volume occupied by a large quantity of particulate material” (ASABE Standards 2011).

Carbonization

“A process of formation of material with increasing carbon content from an organic material, usually by pyrolysis, ending up with almost pure carbon residue at temperature up to about 1600 K” (Marsh 1989).

Cellulose

Linear long-chain polymer component, (C6H10O5)n, that is the primary material of the cell wall of wood and plant material.

Cellulose microfibril

“A bundle of cellulose polymer chains and associated polysaccharides of other types that are united at some regions in highly ordered crystalline lattices known as crystallites and are less highly ordered in the zones between the crystallites (amorphous regions); it is the smallest natural unit of cell wall structure that can be distinguished with an electron microscope” (Panshin and deZeeuw 1964).

Compaction energy

Energy required to compact wood particles or fibers to a specific final volume or density.

Densification

“Process of increasing bulk density or energy content of biomass to improve handling, storage and transportation” (ASABE Standards 2011).

Hemicellulose

Lower molecular weight, generally branched-chain polysaccharide component found in wood and plant material.

Higher heat value

“The full energy content of a fuel. It is the amount of heat produced when a liquid fuel or oven dried solid fuel is fully combusted, all of the products of combustion are cooled to 25 °C (77 °F) and the water vapor formed during combustion is condensed into liquid water” (ASABE Standards 2011).

Highly ordered mesoporous carbon

A porous carbon with very uniform pore size between 2 and 50 nm

Hot water extraction

Process of using hot water (120–240 °C) or steam to extract hemicellulose in wood.

Lignin

High molecular weight component based on phenylpropane units that is found in the cell wall and between cells in wood and plant material and acts primarily as a binding agent.

Lower heat value

“Net heat released from the combustion of oven dry solid fuel after reducing the HHV by the heat of vaporization of the water generated by combustion of the hydrogen in the fuel. Each gram of hydrogen produces 9 grams of water” (ASABE Standards 2011).

Macroporous carbon

A porous carbon material that has a major part of its porosity in pores of larger than 50 nm width.

Mesoporous carbon

A porous carbon material that has a major part of its porosity in pores of width between 2 and 50 nm.

Pellet

A densified or compacted product formed from particles or fibers.

Pellet durability

A quality control measure that determines an index value of how well wood pellets hold up to feeding and handling.

Pellet hardness

A quality control measure that determines the amount of force required to break a wood-type pellet.

Pyrolysis

The chemical decomposition of a substance brought about by heat.

Thermochemical

Heat-associated chemical and physical phenomena.

Torrefaction

“A pretreatment method where biomass is subjected to moderate heating (200–300 °C) in a low oxygen environment” (ASABE Standards 2011).

Torrefied biomass

Product resulting from the torrefaction of wood and other plant-type materials.

Woody biomass

Any part of a tree and woody plants grown in forests and on other land that are generally classified as by-products from other harvesting operations.

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DeVallance, D.B., Xie, X., Wang, T., Wang, J. (2020). Advancements in Thermochemical Modification of Wood for Bioenergy and Biomaterial Applications. In: Mitra, M., Nagchaudhuri, A. (eds) Practices and Perspectives in Sustainable Bioenergy. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3965-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3965-9_10

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  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-3965-9

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