Biomass Densification Systems, Particle Binding, Process Conditions, Quality Attributes, Conversion Performance, and International Standards

This monograph discusses the various biomass feedstocks currently available for biofuels production, and mechanical preprocessing technologies to reduce the feedstock variability for biofuels applications. 

Variability in the properties of biomass—in terms of moisture, particle size distribution, and low-density—results in storage, transportation, handling, and feeding issues. Currently, biorefineries face serious particle bridging issues, uneven discharge, jamming of equipment, and transportation problems. These issues must be solved in order for smooth operations to be possible. Mechanical preprocessing technologies, such as size reduction, densification, and moisture management using drying and dewatering, can help to overcome these issues. Many densification systems exist that will assist in converting low-density biomass to a high-density commodity type feedstock. 

In 6 chapters, the impact of densification process variables, such as temperature, pressure, moisture, etc., on biomass particle agglomeration, the quality of the densified products, and the overall energy consumption of the process are discussed, as are the various compression models for powders that can be used for biomass particles agglomeration behavior and optimization of the densification process using statistical and evolutionary methods. The suitability of these densified products for biochemical and thermochemical conversion pathways is also discussed, as well as the various international standards (CEN and ISO) they must adhere to.

The author has worked on biomass preprocessing at Idaho National Laboratory for the last ten years. He is the principal investigator for the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office-funded “Biomass Size Reduction and Densification” project. He has developed preprocessing technologies to reduce cost and improve quality. The author has published many papers and books focused on biomass preprocessing and pretreatments.

Biomass process engineers and biorefinery managers can benefit from this book. Students in chemical, mechanical, biological, and environmental engineering can also use the book to understand preprocessing technologies, which greatly assist in improving the biomass critical material attributes. The book can help policymakers and energy systems planners to understand the biomass properties limitations and technologies to overcome the same.

Dr. Jaya Shankar Tumuluru is a Distinguished Staff Engineer in the Biological Processing Department at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). He is the principal investigator for the U.S. Department of Energy-funded “Biomass Size Reduction, Drying, and Densification” project. His research at INL is focused on mechanical preprocessing and thermal pretreatments of biomass. He has published papers on biomass preprocessing and pretreatments, food processing, preservation and storage and prediction and optimization of the bioprocess using artificial neural networks and evolutionary algorithms. He has published more than 100 papers in journals and conference proceedings; presented more than 80 papers in national and international conferences; edited books on biomass preprocessing, valorization, and volume estimation; and published more than 15 book chapters. He was named an R&D 100 Award Finalist for 2018, and received the INL Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award for 2019; the Asian American Engineer of the Year Award for 2018; the INL Outstanding Achievement in Scientific and Technical Publication Award in 2014; the Outstanding Reviewer Award for the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Food and Process Engineering Division in 2013, 2014, and 2016; the Outstanding Reviewer for the Biomass and Bioenergy Journal in 2015; and the Outstanding Reviewer for the UK Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2011.