Paper Title
ABLATIVE PYROLYSIS OF CORNCOBS PRETREATED BY TORREFACTION

Abstract
Torrefaction is an effective method to reduce moisture and light volatile contents that result in improving energy density. It also pretreats biomass before introducing it into pyrolysis and it can improve the properties of pyrolysis products. In this work, a screw torrefaction reactor was designed and constructed for pretreating corncobs at light torrefied temperatures of 180, 210, and 240oC, and subsequently used them in ablative pyrolysis. It was found that torrefied temperature affected reduction in moisture and volatile content of corncobs. The torrefied biomass appeared to have higher energy density. Subsequently, ablative pyrolysis of torrefied corncobs was shown to provide higher yields in biochar, increasing from 20.8% from raw corncob to 37.2% for torrefied materials (at 240oC torrefaction).Bio-oil yields from torrefied materials were slightly lower than those from raw biomass. But,proportionof organic phase in bio-oilwas higher. Keywords - biomass, biofuels, clean energy, thermal conversion