ABSTRACT
Biomass preprocessing refers to all of the processing steps that take biomass, whether woody or herbaceous, from its condition after harvest to the point where it is introduced into a conversion process. Research and testing are continually identifying improvements in processing methods and equipments to reduce preprocessing costs and improve the quality attributes. The major challenge of conventional mechanical preprocessing is the cost. Size reduction and densification are the mechanical preprocessing operations used to convert the biomass from its harvested condition to a particle size and moisture content that meets the specifications needed for conversion applications. Preprocessing may include drying, which is a thermal pretreatment technique used to make biomass aerobically stable or to prepare the biomass for thermal conversion. Conventional preprocessing converts biomass into a more flowable feedstock with the desired physical and chemical requirements. The major challenge in conventional preprocessing is the cost of the process concerning the moisture content.
