Effect of pelleting process variables on physical properties and sugar yields of ammonia fiber expansion pretreated corn stover

Amber N. Hoover, Jaya Shankar Tumuluru, Farzaneh Teymouri, Janette Moore, Garold Gresham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pelletization process variables, including grind size (4, 6. mm), die speed (40, 50, 60. Hz), and preheating (none, 70. °C), were evaluated to understand their effect on pellet quality attributes and sugar yields of ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pretreated biomass. The bulk density of the pelletized AFEX corn stover was three to six times greater compared to untreated and AFEX-treated corn stover. Also, the durability of the pelletized AFEX corn stover was. >97.5% for all pelletization conditions studied except for preheated pellets. Die speed had no effect on enzymatic hydrolysis sugar yields of pellets. Pellets produced with preheating or a larger grind size (6. mm) had similar or lower sugar yields. Pellets generated with 4. mm AFEX-treated corn stover, a 60. Hz die speed, and no preheating resulted in pellets with similar or greater density, durability, and sugar yields compared to other pelletization conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)128-135
Number of pages8
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume164
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2014

Keywords

  • Ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)
  • Corn stover
  • Densification
  • Enzymatic hydrolysis
  • Pelletization

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