A commercially viable platform designed to stabilize biomass materials close to the source for local and regional biochemical and bioenergy uses is under development by the EU SteamBio project. The research focuses on steam drying technology to reduce biofuel transportation costs and yield valuable feedstock for the chemical Project partners are investigating the torrefaction of various lignocellulosic substrates, including pruning (left untreated, right torrefied). Source: Fraunhofer IGBindustry.

A superheated steam processing route being advanced has been demonstrated at pilot scales to torrefy biomass materials into hydrophobic and grindable solids with value-added volatile compounds as a side stream. The platform will be scalable, enabling both mobile deployment according to seasonal demands and fixed location for high volume throughputs.

The technology will simplify the logistics of transporting and storing wood chips. Torrefying the chips at 200-250 degrees Celsius in a steam atmosphere without oxygen eliminates the hemicellulose component, reducing the weight of the material, enhancing its specific calorific value and facilitating conversion into a highly reactive powder.

Project partners include Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (Germany), Heckmann Metall-und Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany), Network New Europe Limited (UK), Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (Sweden) and Comercial e Industrial Aries SA (Spain).