In order to investigate the effect of potassium addition on the composition of torrefaction condensates, two demineralized wood species were impregnated with different concentrations of K2CO3 and then torrefied at 275°C up to an anhydrous weight loss (AWL) of 25%. Torrefaction was carried out in both a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) instrument and a laboratory fixed-bed reactor. Condensates from the fixed bed reactor were collected and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). TGA showed that when potassium content increased in the biomass, shorter torrefaction times were sufficient to obtain the targeted AWL. GC-MS analysis showed, for both wood species, that potassium promotes the formation of acetol and slightly enhances acetic acid yield. The amount of some lignin derivatives (guaiacol, syringol, 4-vinylguaiacol) also rose with potassium addition. Yields of levoglucosan, LAC (1-hydroxy-(1R)-3,6-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one) and DGP (1,4:3,6-dianhydro-a-d-glucopyranose), as well as furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, decreased drastically in the presence of potassium.

Proceedings of the 25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 12-15 June 2017, Stockholm, Sweden, pp. 1056-1062