Evaluating of Thermal Treatment of Canola Dockage

Between 10% and 14% of the world’s energy supply could be met by one of the most common sources of renewable energy, biomass. In Canada, canola is one of the main crops grown in Western Canada and approximately 21.3 million tonnes of canola are produced in Canada annually, representing approximately CDN $26.7 billion of economic value. This research project aims to evaluate the potential of canola dockage as an energy source by analyzing its chemical and physical composition as well as the effect of mild thermal treatment (torrefaction) on this material to change its fuel quality. In this project, primary results showed that dockage feedstock was comprised primarily of 65% (w/w) of seed pods with the bulk density of 73±5 g/l. Ash content and volatile matter of raw feedstock accounted for about 6.19±0.16% and 70.1±0.2% (w/w). The carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur content of raw canola dockage was obtained using Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Sulfur analysis and found to be 40.9%, 6.04%, 1.16%, and 0.953% (w/w), respectively. In this study, ten discrete temperatures ranging from 220 to 270 °C and a residence time of 8.5 minutes were selected to assess the effect of torrefaction on canola dockage. The results suggested that canola dockage could feed without plugging. After torrefaction, the mass yield (dry basis) of torrefied solid ranged from 68.7 to 92.4% (w/w). The mean ash content and volatile matter of the dockage used in the torrefaction experiments were found to be 8.67±0.80% (w/w) and 69.9±3.1% (w/w), respectively. After torrefaction, the carbon content increased by 26.6%, while oxygen content decreased by 32.7%. The mean Higher Heating Value (HHV) for the torrefied dockage was determined to be 19.4±0.8 MJ/kg, an 18% increase compared to raw feedstock. Gas chromatography showed that CH4, C2H6, CO2, N2, and O2 are the main gases produced during torrefaction. The amounts of chemical compositions were determined to be 7.55±0.01%, 13.2±0.2%, and 37.1±0.9% (w/w) for lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose before torrefaction and 29.0±0.2%, 0.10±0.04%, 34.9±0.2% (w/w), respectively after torrefaction. The intensity of FT-IR peaks changed during torrefaction due to reactions such as decarboxylation and depolymerization. SEM images represented the lost in the compacted structure of biomass implied the presence of some pores-like structure on the surface.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Daneshamouz, Sana

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Evitts , Richard
• Campbell, William

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Wilson, Lee
• Zhang, Lifeng
• N. Oguocha , Ikechukwuka

• Torrefaction, Biomass, Canola dockage

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15443

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/15443