Grindability and combustion behavior of raw and thermally treated different ages of Bambusa balcooa

Different ages of Bambusa balcooa (bamboo) were treated and tested for grindability and combustion behavior in support of a co-firing research program. The bamboo samples (1, 3, and 4+ years old) were subjected to thermal pre-treatment methods, that is, torrefaction at 250 and 280 degrees C and low temperature carbonization at 350 and 400 degrees C to improve their combustion and physicochemical properties. The grindability of bamboo was improved by thermal treatment, indicated by an increase in HGI value. In all bamboo samples (1, 3, and 4+ years old), the grindability was found to be easier as the treatment temperature increased. The raw bamboo samples exhibited calorific values ranging from 17 to 18 MJ/kg and these increased to 25-30 MJ/kg, by torrefaction and carbonization. Both raw and thermally treated bamboo had higher reactivities, and lower ignition and burnout temperatures compared with that for coal during combustion. The carbonized 4-year-old bamboo forms appear to be more suited to, and possibly the preferred alternative source of fuel for, firing alone or co-fired with coal in pulverized coal boilers such as those used in large scale power generation in South Africa. (c) 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1901-1907, 2018