The Effects of Torrefaction on Lignocellulose Composition and Moisture Absorption Ability of Cocoa Pod Husk

Abstract

The weakness of biomass as a fuel can be minimized by torrefaction technology. Mass yield and enhancement factor are two of the parameters that can be used to evaluate the torrefaction process. Some of the important changes in the biomass properties after being torrefied are a reduction of moisture content and moisture absorption ability. This study was performed to determine the change of lignocel-lulose composition and moisture absorption ability of the cocoa pod husk (CPH) which was torrefied at 200, 250, and 300 oC and holding times of 0, 30, 60, and 90 min. The mass yield and enhancement factor of torrefied cocoa pod husk ranged from 54.6 % to 86.7 % and 1.09 to 1.34, respectively, depending on tem-perature and holding time. Hemicellulose fraction of torrefied CPH at 200 oC was 28.99 % then decreased to 8.39 % when torrefied at 300 oC. Amount of cellulose in CPH was in the range of 13.14 % (200 oC, 60 min) to 1.43 % (300 oC, 60 min). The lignin content increased from 28.99 % to 72.4 % with the temperature increased from 200 to 300 oC. Amount of hemicellulose in torrefied CPH tended to decrease along with the increasing of temperature and holding time, while lig-nin had the opposite trend. The moisture absorption was 11.5 % for raw CPH down to 5.5 % for torrefied CPH at 300 oC. The ability of CPH to absorb mois-ture decrease as increasing torrefaction temperature and holding time.