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Biofuels

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...

Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

The low reactivity in alkanes can be attributed to the non-polar nature of C–C and C–H σ bonds. Alkanes, therefore, were initially termed as “paraffins,” derived from the Latin words: parum, meaning “too little,” and affinis, meaning “affinity.”
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and...

Volatilization

Volatilization

Volatilization gravimetry is an analytical technique that measures the mass lost due to the volatilization of the substance. This technique is used to estimate the amount of volatile material in a sample. To perform this method, heat a known amount of the sample to a high temperature in a crucible or other suitable vessel. The volatile substance in the sample evaporates, and the vapor is completely expelled from the crucible either by heating the sample or bubbling a stream of inert gas through...

Distillation: Vapor–Liquid Equilibria

Distillation: Vapor–Liquid Equilibria

Distillation is a separation technique that takes advantage of the boiling point properties of disparate elements in a mixture. To perform distillation, we begin by heating a miscible mixture of two liquids with a significant difference in boiling points (at least 20°C). As the solution heats up and reaches the bubble point of the more volatile component, some molecules of the more volatile component transition into the gas phase and travel upward into the condenser, which is a glass tube with...

Designing Growth Media for Bioreactors

Designing Growth Media for Bioreactors

Growth media provide essential nutrients that support cell growth and metabolism, thereby enhancing the yield of valuable products such as enzymes, antibiotics, and biomass. Designing an effective growth medium involves balancing all components to prevent nutrient limitations or toxic excesses, both of which can impair growth and reduce product yields.Composition of a Typical Growth MediumA typical growth medium contains carbon and nitrogen sources, salts, vitamins, trace elements, and...

Thermal Sigmatropic Reactions: Overview

Thermal Sigmatropic Reactions: Overview

Sigmatropic rearrangements are a class of pericyclic reactions in which a σ bond migrates from one part of a π system to another. These are intramolecular rearrangements where the total number of σ and π bonds remain unchanged.
Sigmatropic shifts are classified based on an order term [i,&VeryThinSpace;j&VeryThinSpace;], where i and j indicate the number of atoms across which each end of the σ bond migrates. Below are examples of a [3,3] sigmatropic shift in 1,5-hexadiene, referred to as...

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Related Experiment Video

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Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass Residues in a Twin-screw Mixing Reactor

Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass Residues in a Twin-screw Mixing Reactor

Published on: September 9, 2016

Biomass torrefaction: modeling of volatile and solid product evolution kinetics.

Richard B Bates¹, Ahmed F Ghoniem

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA. rbates@mit.edu

Bioresource Technology

|October 3, 2012

Summary

This study developed a kinetics model for biomass torrefaction, identifying key volatile compounds released at different stages. This model aids in understanding solid product composition and energy dynamics during thermal decomposition.

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Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass Residues in a Twin-screw Mixing Reactor

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Published on: September 9, 2016

Biomass Conversion to Produce Hydrocarbon Liquid Fuel Via Hot-vapor Filtered Fast Pyrolysis and Catalytic Hydrotreating

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Transformation of Organic Household Leftovers into a Peat Substitute

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Published on: July 9, 2019

Area of Science:

Biomass energy research
Thermochemical conversion processes

Background:

Biomass torrefaction is a key thermochemical process for upgrading biomass properties.
Understanding the kinetics of volatile release and solid product evolution is crucial for process optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

Develop a kinetics model for volatile and solid product composition during torrefaction (200-300°C).
Describe volatile release kinetics using identifiable chemical components.
Enable solid product composition estimation via mass conservation.

Main Methods:

Coupling a new volatile release model with an existing two-step solid mass loss kinetics mechanism.
Analyzing volatile composition based on chemical species released during different torrefaction stages.

Main Results:

Identified highly oxygenated species (water, acetic acid, CO2) in early-stage volatiles.
Determined primary volatiles in the second stage include lactic acid, methanol, and acetic acid.
Established a mass conservation approach for solid product composition estimation.

Conclusions:

The developed kinetics model accurately describes volatile evolution during torrefaction.
The model provides insights into the chemical composition of volatiles and solid products.
This work lays the foundation for modeling energy balance and heat release dynamics in torrefaction.