43
© The Author(s) 2020
M. Gummert et al. (eds.), Sustainable Rice Straw Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_4
Chapter 4
Thermochemical Conversion of Rice Straw
Monet Concepcion Maguyon-Detras, Maria Victoria P. Migo,
Nguyen Van Hung, and Martin Gummert
Abstract Biomass conversion into various forms of energy, such as heat, power, or
biofuels using thermal processes, involves the decomposition of biomass by exposure to heat, typically above 300 °C. Thermal conversion processes include pyrolysis, gasification, and direct combustion. Several factors affect the yields and energy
recovery from these processes including temperature, reaction time, heating rate,
absence, or presence of oxygen, use of catalysts, and pressure. Due to rice straw’s
relatively high carbon and hydrogen contents, it contains a considerable amount of
energy that make it a suitable feedstock for thermal conversion. In this chapter, the
basic principles and factors affecting the thermal conversion of biomass into energy
are discussed. Studies on the use of rice straw as feedstock to produce heat, power,
and biofuels via thermal conversion are reviewed. Utilization of thermal conversion
byproducts including biochar and ash will are presented. Thermal processes are
compared in terms of energy conversion, possible environmental impacts, and technological and commercial maturity.
Keywords Bioenergy · Pyrolysis · Gasification · Combustion · Biomass ·
Thermochemical conversion
M. C. Maguyon-Detras (*) · M. V. P. Migo
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial
Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB),
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: mmdetras@up.edu.ph; mpmigo@up.edu.ph
N. V. Hung · M. Gummert
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: hung.nguyen@irri.org; m.gummert@irri.org
© The Author(s) 2020
M. Gummert et al. (eds.), Sustainable Rice Straw Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_4
Chapter 4
Thermochemical Conversion of Rice Straw
Monet Concepcion Maguyon-Detras, Maria Victoria P. Migo,
Nguyen Van Hung, and Martin Gummert
Abstract Biomass conversion into various forms of energy, such as heat, power, or
biofuels using thermal processes, involves the decomposition of biomass by exposure to heat, typically above 300 °C. Thermal conversion processes include pyrolysis, gasification, and direct combustion. Several factors affect the yields and energy
recovery from these processes including temperature, reaction time, heating rate,
absence, or presence of oxygen, use of catalysts, and pressure. Due to rice straw’s
relatively high carbon and hydrogen contents, it contains a considerable amount of
energy that make it a suitable feedstock for thermal conversion. In this chapter, the
basic principles and factors affecting the thermal conversion of biomass into energy
are discussed. Studies on the use of rice straw as feedstock to produce heat, power,
and biofuels via thermal conversion are reviewed. Utilization of thermal conversion
byproducts including biochar and ash will are presented. Thermal processes are
compared in terms of energy conversion, possible environmental impacts, and technological and commercial maturity.
Keywords Bioenergy · Pyrolysis · Gasification · Combustion · Biomass ·
Thermochemical conversion
M. C. Maguyon-Detras (*) · M. V. P. Migo
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial
Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB),
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: mmdetras@up.edu.ph; mpmigo@up.edu.ph
N. V. Hung · M. Gummert
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: hung.nguyen@irri.org; m.gummert@irri.org