Hybrid sol-gel coatings for reducing wettability and storage degradation of biomass pellets

Cutz, L.; Tiringer, U.; de Jong, W.; Mol, J.M.C.

doi:10.1016/j.matchemphys.2023.127861

Hybrid sol-gel coatings for reducing wettability and storage degradation of biomass pellets

Title

Hybrid sol-gel coatings for reducing wettability and storage degradation of biomass pellets

Author

Cutz, L. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
Tiringer, U. (TU Delft Team Peyman Taheri)
de Jong, W. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
Mol, J.M.C. (TU Delft Team Arjan Mol)

Date

2023

Abstract

Long transport distances and extended storage of biomass pellets especially in humid environments provide a suitable setting for enhanced degradation in the form of moisture sorption, cracking and attrition. We developed an optically transparent, low-cost and environmentally friendly coating to reduce moisture sorption and storage degradation of pellets. The developed coating is a hybrid sol–gel, based on tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) precursors. We coated two types of untreated and one type of torrefied wood pellets and stored them in a climate chamber during 1 month simulating a ship's hold, at a constant condition of 40 °C and 85% relative humidity. After 1 month of storage, the mean water contact angle increased by a factor of two compared to the uncoated ones. The lower wettability of the sol-gel coated untreated pellets compared to the non-coated torrefied pellets might provide an alternative to torrefaction.

Subject

Biomass pellets
Biomass treatment
Durability
Hydrophobic coating
Storage

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7b861972-65fc-4c3e-b8be-9f116dcaf29d

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2023.127861

ISSN

0254-0584

Source

Materials Chemistry and Physics, 304

Part of collection

Institutional Repository