Researchers test biomass gasification pretreatment

BioMass Magazine - November 2008
By Ryan C. Christiansen
Web exclusive posted Nov. 14, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. CST

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are developing a biomass pretreatment method to help optimize the gasification of biomass, such as wood, corn stover, rice straw, and switchgrass. Using a hot pressurized water hydrothermal process followed by a hot nitrogen torrefaction process, the researchers are converting biomass into a carbon-neutral black, crumbly char, similar in shape and size to coal.

“[Through torrefaction], you increase the energy density of the biomass by exposing the material to a certain temperature level in the absence of oxygen, and so you can use nitrogen, for instance, so that oxidation processes do not occur,” said Victor Vasquez, an associate professor in the chemical engineering department at the university and one of the researchers. “You dry out a lot of the water and you dry out some of the volatile compounds and in the end, you end up with a product that has a higher energy density and a reduced amount of water. The material becomes quite hydrophobic.”

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