Rural Scale Torrefaction of Eucalyptus and Acacia wood: Effect on yield and functional group modification

Abstract

The depletion of fossil fuels lead to the investigation and development of renewable resources. Among them torrefaction is an attractive technique that increases the energy density of the biomass, makes it hydrophobic and enables the straight chain polymers to be more crystalline. Torrefaction of Acacia and Eucalyptus wood yielded blackened material and the conversion rate was higher in Eucalyptus due to lack of thick bark. From the FT-IR spectra, it was seen that the lignin monomer became prominent with torrefaction and increase in torrefied material percentage in the blends. This is attributed to the reduction in degree of polymerization of cellulose which in turn increases the dominance of guaiacyl in the torrified material and blends with higher percentage of torrefied material.