THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF BIOMASS FEEDSTOCKS INDIGENOUS TO SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STAES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0215859
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2010
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849

Performing Department
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Non Technical Summary
The dependence of U.S. on imported crude oil is now obviously an issue of national and energy security and of environmental concern. Therefore, several efforts are currently being made in the country to replace a substantial part of the imported crude oil with renewable energy. Energy from biomass crops are the most promising out of the renewable sources because biomass feedstocks are the only source of carbon that can be used to replace carbon-based liquid transportation fuels, chemicals and products that are currently obtained from petroleum.. Based on the vast amount of biomass resources (about 1.3 billion tons per year) available in the country, USDA and U.S. Department of Energy estimated that these available biomass can be used to replace up to 30% of imported crude oil. However, both agencies have identified that the conversion of these biomass into fuels, heat, power and chemical products as one of the technical barriers that has limited biomass energy utilization in the country. Specifically, the bottlenecks that have been identified in the thermochemical conversion process include optimization of the conditions for syngas production from biomass feedstocks (especially cellulosic feedstocks) and process residues. The thermochemical conversion process is crucial to the successful substitute of the imported fossil fuel with biomass energy because of the ability of thermochemical conversion to convert the lignin portion of the biomass into synthetic gas. The results from this project will be needed for the design and ptimization of gasifiers, combustors and other thermochemical conversion devices/equipment. This project will therefore contribute towards the reduction of the nation?s dependence (hence improved national and energy security) on foreign fossil fuels thereby improving the environment and the economy of rural America.

Animal Health Component

30%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

70%

Applied

30%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
511	2410	2020	50%
511	0699	2020	50%

Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
2410 - Cross-commodity research--multiple crops; 0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;

Keywords

gasification

biomass

syngas

thermal decomposition

kinetics

Goals / Objectives
The goal of the project is to conduct fundamental studies on the thermochemical conversion of biomass feedstocks. The specific objectives of the study are as follows: (a) Investigate the effect of heating rate, carrier gas, particle size, moisture content and biomass feedstock on thermal decomposition rate, syngas composition and concentration; (b) Model the kinetics of thermal decomposition of biomass feedstocks and the kinetics of evolution of syngas during thermal decomposition; and (c) Characterize the residue obtained from thermal decomposition study of objective 1.

Project Methods
Biomass feedstocks indigenous to southeastern United States (e.g. switchgrass, loblolly pine, sawdust, and poultry litter will be used in this study. The heating value, ash, hydrogen and carbon contents of the samples will be determined by standard methods. This will be followed by thermal decomposition kinetics experiment using a TGA coupled to an FTIR. The TGA aspect of the study will involve heating the samples from 25C to 900C while monitoring the change in weight of the sample. Heating rates of 1 to 40C/min will be investigated. The resulting change in weight will be used in thermal decomposition kinetics modeling work. A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer that is coupled to the TGA will be used to analyze the gases evolved from the. This will be followed by analysis of the spectra obtained using FTIR search library software, and the modeling of the temperature/time effect on evolved gas composition and quantity. In addition, the residue obtained will be analyzed for heating value, ash, and mineral composition using standard methods.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Experiments on thermochemical conversion of biomass feedstocks were continued. Specifically, thermogravimetric analysis of pecan shells were carried out. The resulting syngas produced were measured by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and quantified by appropriate gas analysis software. In addition, I was involved in the characterization of biooil (pyrolysis - a thermochemical process) obtained from pine wood. The results obtained from these studies were disseminated through presentation at the annual ASABE International Conference and in peer-reviewed publications. PARTICIPANTS: Littlefield, B. (Graduate student) Thangalazhy-Gopakumar S. (Graduate Student) Ravindran, H. (Graduate Student) TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The results obtained from these studies will enable the optimum design and scale up of processes for thermochemical conversion of biomass into bioenergy and biofuels. it was found that thermal decomposition of pecan shells is completed at 600C under nitrogen and air atmospheres. The major gases produced from nitrogen thermal decomposition of pecan shells were carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethanol and acetic acid while carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methyl isocyanate were obtained from air atmosphere. Further analysis showed that the energy required to drive off moisture and raise temperature of pecan shells to thermal decomposition temperatures was approximately 30% of the energy available in pecan shells. With regards to the production of bio-oil from pine wood, it was found that the quality of bio-oil and yield were highly dependent on temperature, moisture content and residence time. The study found that the concentration of phenol and its derivatives increased with the increase in pyrolysis temperature whereas the concentration of guaiacol and its derivatives decreased as the temperature increased. Concentration of acetic and other acids remained almost constant or increased with the increase in temperature although the pH value of the bio-oil decreased with the increase in temperature.

Publications

• Littlefield, B. and Fasina, O.O. 2010. Characterization of pecan shells for value-added applications. ASABE Annual International Meeting, Pittsburg, PA., June 20th to June 24th.
• 4.Thangalazhy-Gopakumar* S.; Adhikari, S.; Ravindran, H.; Gupta; R.B., Fasina, O., Tu, M.; Fernando, S.D. 2010. Physicochemical properties of bio-oil produced at various temperatures from pine wood using an auger reactor. Bioresource Technology. 101: 8389-8395.

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1 (effect of parameters on thermal decomposition rate) and objective 2 (modeling the kinetics of thermal decomposition and syngas evolution) have been completed. Objective 3 (characterizing the residue obtained from thermal decomposition) is in progress). The results obtained so far have been disseminated through publication in refereed journal articles and presentations in national conferences. PARTICIPANTS: Lee, S: Visiting professor from South Korea. Paid by South Korean government for 6 months sabbatical leave. Bernhart, M: M.S. Graduate student, $17,000 per year Davis, R.: Temporary employee, $14/hr TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers and engineers who are involved in the design and selection of equipment to thermochemically convert biomass feedstocks into syngas and produce gas. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None

Impacts
The results obtained so far from this study gives information about the composition of gases obtained from biomass feedstocks that are indigenous to southeastern United States. The results also quantified the rate of thermal decomposition of these feedstocks and the rate of generation of the syngas during thermal decomposition

Publications

• Fasina, O.O. 2009. TGA Analysis of Biomass Pyrolysis: Effect of Air and Inert Gas. Paper No. 096023. ASABE Annual International Meeting, Reno, NV, June 21st to June 24th.
• Lee, S. and Fasina, O.O. 2009. TG-FTIR analysis of switchgrass pyrolysis. J. Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 86: 39-43.
• Bernhart, M. and Fasina, O.O. 2009. Physical properties and pyrolysis behavior of fractionated poultry litter. Trans. ASABE. 52: 531-538.

Progress 10/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Studies on the effect of process parameters and feedstock type on thermal decomposition rate of biomass feedstocks have been started. Specifically, we have begun to collect data on effect of nitrogen and air on thermal decomposition rate of poultry litter, switchgrass and loblolly pine wood. The data obtained from this study is currently being analyzed. Studies on the effect of other process parameters will begin soon. PARTICIPANTS: Fasina, O.O. - Main PI Littlefiedl, B - graduate student TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for the project are engineers and scientists involved in the design and development of biomass thermochemical conversion sytsems. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Results are currently being analyzed

Publications

• No publications reported this period