MRI: Acquisition of an AquaLab Vapor Sorption Analyzer for Studying Sorption Equilibrium Moisture Characteristics of Biomass Feedstocks

提案：1428548PI: Mahapatra， Ajit k .标题：MRI：用于研究生物质原料吸附平衡水分特性的AquaLab蒸汽吸附分析仪的获取意义关于生物质原料作为生物能源商业化的主要问题之一是关于其可储存性的信息有限。确定生物质原料在不同储存条件下是否能保持其质量的方法之一是研究其吸湿等温线。在干燥器中使用饱和盐溶液进行吸湿研究的传统方法存在三个主要问题：1)达到平衡所需的时间很长（单一温度下需要四周），2)由于连续移除生物质样品并将其暴露在通常具有不同相对湿度和温度的实验室环境中，因此难以获得准确的测量结果，以及3)研究人员需要耗时，繁琐的步骤才能获得平衡期间的重量测量结果。通过获得AquaLab蒸汽吸附分析仪（型号40430，Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman， WA），可以轻松进行静态和动态蒸汽吸附分析。技术描述在不同温度和相对湿度下的生物质原料吸湿等温线的发展将提供关键信息，以确定生物质原料在不同气候下的反应，从而有助于建立最佳的储存、运输和干燥条件。该仪器将用于研究几种生物质原料的平衡水分特性。更具体地说，AquaLab蒸汽吸附分析仪（VSA）将为PI提供进行以下研究活动的机会：(1)测定甜高粱、甘蔗、油油草和泡桐的吸湿特性；(2)对甜高粱、甘蔗、樟子草和泡桐等温吸附数据的等温线模型进行评价。

Proposal: 1428548PI: Mahapatra, Ajit K.Title: MRI: Acquisition of an AquaLab Vapor Sorption Analyzer for Studying Sorption Equilibrium Moisture Characteristics of Biomass FeedstocksSignificanceOne of the major issues regarding the commercialization of biomass feedstocks as a bioenergy source is the fact that there is only limited information available regarding their storability. One of the ways to determine if a biomass feedstock will maintain its quality under different storage conditions is to develop its moisture sorption isotherms. There are three major issues associated with the traditional method of using saturated salt solutions in desiccators to conduct moisture sorption studies: 1) lengthy period of time required to achieve equilibrium (four weeks for a single temperature), 2) difficulty of obtaining accurate measurements due to the protocol of continuously removing the biomass sample and exposing it to lab environment which often has a different relative humidity and temperature, and 3) the time-consuming, cumbersome steps required of the researcher to obtain weight measurements for the duration of the equilibration period. By acquiring an AquaLab Vapor Sorption Analyzer (Model No. 40430, Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman, WA), both static and dynamic vapor sorption analysis can be performed with ease.Technical DescriptionDevelopment of biomass feedstock moisture sorption isotherms at different temperatures and relative humidities will provide critical information in determining how a biomass feedstock will react in different climates, and thus aid in establishing the optimal storage, transportation, and drying conditions. The proposed instrument will be used to study the equilibrium moisturecharacteristics of several biomass feedstocks. More specifically, the AquaLab Vapor Sorption Analyzer (VSA) would provide the PI the opportunity for conducting the following research activities: (1) determination of moisture sorption characteristics of sweet sorghum, energycane, napiergrass, and Paulownia; and (2) evaluation of isotherm models for describing isotherm sorption data for sweet sorghum, energycane, napiergrass, and Paulownia.