Effect of ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX™) pretreatment on compression behavior of corn stover, prairie cord grass and switchgrass

摘要: Abstract Understanding the fundamental mechanisms involved in densification of bulky lignocellulosic feedstocks is imperative. This study was carried out to understand effect ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX™) pretreatment on compression behavior corn stover, prairie cord grass, and switchgrass. Samples were ground using three different hammer mill screen sizes (2, 4, 8 mm) subjected AFEX™ pretreatment. Untreated pretreated samples moisture adjusted four levels (8, 12, 16, 20% wb) compressed a single pelleting unit. Physical properties comprising bulk density, particle density unit pellets determined for each combination. stover with content at size 2 mm produced 21% higher compared untreated pellets. grass switchgrass having 25% density. The decrease increase applied pressure increased pellet Data obtained from experiments fitted compaction models viz. Jones, Walker, Kawakita Ludde. Ludde model exhibited high degree accuracy ( R 2 – 0.99 1.00) all samples. constant value ‘1/ b ’ represents yield strength compacts, lower 1/ values implies impact pretreatment, which turn made biomass easier compress. Lower (16–20% signifying that leads onset deformation relatively low produce highly compacted