Carbonization ranking of selected biomass for charcoal, liquid and gaseous products

Biomass could be converted to charcoal and to liquid and gaseous products using the carbonization process at different temperatures. The chemical composition and yields of charcoal, gas, condensed liquid and tar were determined as a function of the carbonization temperature. The char yield decreased gradually from 47.1% to 31.8% for the hazelnut kernel husk and from 31.8% to 19.1% for the corncob with an increase of temperature, whilst the char yield from the lignin content decreased sharply from 53% to 15% until at 850 K. A ranking of the agricultural and forestry residues was constructed in terms of their suitability for charcoal production. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.