IMPROVEMENT OF RICE HUSK AND COCONUT SHELL PROPERTIES THROUGH TORREFACTION PROCESS

Torrefaction is a thermochemical process that can be used for pre-treatment of agroprocessing residues before they are being used as feedstock for gasification process. In this study, the suitability of torrefaction process as the pre-treament method for coconut shell and rice hushs is studied. The torrefaction process was carried out by using a laboratory furnace, known as fixed bed activation unit at two operating conditions i.e 1.5 hrs at 240C and 3.0 hrs at 280C respectively. Analyses such as proximate, ultimate, moisture and calorific value are carried out to determine the effects of torrefaction process on the agroprocessing residues. For the experimental results, it is found that torrefaction process improve the energy/mass ratio of the material due to mass loss and increment of the energy content (calorific value) increase during the process. The increase in the energy/mass ratio is affected by torrefaction parameters; i.e. torrefaction temperature, reaction time and particle size. The highest energy/mass ratio is obtained for 500µm cocounut shell and torrefied at 280C. The results obtained proved that the physical properties of the samples tested are improved through torrefaction process.