Go with the Flow: Additives to Improve the Flowability of Crumbled Corn Stover

Finney, Tanner Joseph; Oberteuffer-Bailey, Ronan; Wilson, Abigail Ward; Davis, Benjamin L.

doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c08649

Title: Go with the Flow: Additives to Improve the Flowability of Crumbled Corn Stover

Journal Article · 08 January 2025 · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c08649 · OSTI ID:2500878

^[1]; Oberteuffer-Bailey, Ronan ^[1];

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Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

For this work, magnesium stearate (MgSt), a common flow additive and anticaking agent, was applied to corn stover feedstocks with three particle sizes. The material handling properties of dry, 15%, and 30% moisture content corn stover were measured with a Freeman FT-4 powder rheometer and mass flow hopper calculations. While hydrated biomass typically exhibits poor flowability, introducing MgSt led to a significant increase in flowability for dry and 15% moisture content feedstocks, with less impact at 30% moisture content. Inverse gas chromatography showed a decrease, up to 40%, in the surface energy of MgSt-coated corn stover. While MgSt may not be ideal for biofuel or chemical production, this study highlights the potential of flow additives to reduce adhesive and cohesive forces, improving biomass feedstock handling.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 2500878

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--24-30867

Journal Information:: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Name: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 13; ISSN 2168-0485

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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09 BIOMASS FUELS
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Title: Go with the Flow: Additives to Improve the Flowability of Crumbled Corn Stover

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