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A Comparison of Producer Gas, Biochar, and Activated Carbon from Two Distributed Scale Thermochemical Conversion Systems Used to Process Forest Biomass

Author

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  • Nathaniel Anderson

    (Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 200 East Broadway, Missoula, MT 59807, USA)

  • J. Greg Jones

    (Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 200 East Broadway, Missoula, MT 59807, USA)

  • Deborah Page-Dumroese

    (Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Moscow, ID 83843, USA)

  • Daniel McCollum

    (Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA)

  • Stephen Baker

    (Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, Missoula, MT 59808, USA)

  • Daniel Loeffler

    (College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

  • Woodam Chung

    (College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA)

Abstract

Thermochemical biomass conversion systems have the potential to produce heat, power, fuels and other products from forest biomass at distributed scales that meet the needs of some forest industry facilities. However, many of these systems have not been deployed in this sector and the products they produce from forest biomass have not been adequately described or characterized with regards to chemical properties, possible uses, and markets. This paper characterizes the producer gas, biochar, and activated carbon of a 700 kg h −1 prototype gasification system and a 225 kg h −1 pyrolysis system used to process coniferous sawmill and forest residues. Producer gas from sawmill residues processed with the gasifier had higher energy content than gas from forest residues, with averages of 12.4 MJ m −3 and 9.8 MJ m −3 , respectively. Gases from the pyrolysis system averaged 1.3 MJ m −3 for mill residues and 2.5 MJ m −3 for forest residues. Biochars produced have similar particle size distributions and bulk density, but vary in pH and carbon content. Biochars from both systems were successfully activated using steam activation, with resulting BET surface area in the range of commercial activated carbon. Results are discussed in the context of co-locating these systems with forest industry operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathaniel Anderson & J. Greg Jones & Deborah Page-Dumroese & Daniel McCollum & Stephen Baker & Daniel Loeffler & Woodam Chung, 2013. "A Comparison of Producer Gas, Biochar, and Activated Carbon from Two Distributed Scale Thermochemical Conversion Systems Used to Process Forest Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:6:y:2013:i:1:p:164-183:d:22657
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajay Kumar & David D. Jones & Milford A. Hanna, 2009. "Thermochemical Biomass Gasification: A Review of the Current Status of the Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-26, July.
    2. Uslu, Ayla & Faaij, André P.C. & Bergman, P.C.A., 2008. "Pre-treatment technologies, and their effect on international bioenergy supply chain logistics. Techno-economic evaluation of torrefaction, fast pyrolysis and pelletisation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1206-1223.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alhashimi, Hashim A. & Aktas, Can B., 2017. "Life cycle environmental and economic performance of biochar compared with activated carbon: A meta-analysis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 13-26.
    2. Adrian Knapczyk & Sławomir Francik & Marcin Jewiarz & Agnieszka Zawiślak & Renata Francik, 2020. "Thermal Treatment of Biomass: A Bibliometric Analysis—The Torrefaction Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-31, December.
    3. Xing Yang & Hailong Wang & Peter James Strong & Song Xu & Shujuan Liu & Kouping Lu & Kuichuan Sheng & Jia Guo & Lei Che & Lizhi He & Yong Sik Ok & Guodong Yuan & Ying Shen & Xin Chen, 2017. "Thermal Properties of Biochars Derived from Waste Biomass Generated by Agricultural and Forestry Sectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Silviu Nate & Yuriy Bilan & Danylo Cherevatskyi & Ganna Kharlamova & Oleksandr Lyakh & Agnieszka Wosiak, 2021. "The Impact of Energy Consumption on the Three Pillars of Sustainable Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Isabel Teichmann, 2014. "Technical Greenhouse-Gas Mitigation Potentials of Biochar Soil Incorporation in Germany," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1406, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Andrew N. Amenaghawon & Chinedu L. Anyalewechi & Charity O. Okieimen & Heri Septya Kusuma, 2021. "Biomass pyrolysis technologies for value-added products: a state-of-the-art review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14324-14378, October.
    7. Campbell, Robert M. & Anderson, Nathaniel M. & Daugaard, Daren E. & Naughton, Helen T., 2018. "Financial viability of biofuel and biochar production from forest biomass in the face of market price volatility and uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 330-343.
    8. Nathaniel Anderson & Hongmei Gu & Richard Bergman, 2021. "Comparison of Novel Biochars and Steam Activated Carbon from Mixed Conifer Mill Residues," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.
    9. Seung-Yong Oh & Young-Man Yoon, 2017. "Energy Recovery Efficiency of Poultry Slaughterhouse Sludge Cake by Hydrothermal Carbonization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.

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