Emissions of monoterpenes and VOCs during drying of sawdust in a spouted bed

Emissions of volatile hydrocarbons are considered an environmental problem and a health problem. A wood-drying process is a source of volatile organic compound (VOC)emissions. Emissions of monoterpenes, as well as total VOCs, from a pilot-scale continuous spouted bed dryer have been investigated regarding the influence of the drying medium temperature and the final sawdust moisture content. The emissions from sawdust of Norway spruce (Picea abies), dried at three temperature schedules (T = 140?C, T = 170?C, and T = 200?C), was analyzed by a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometric detector and a flame ionization detector. Emissions of terpenes and VOC per ovendry weight increased rapidly when the sawdust moisture content was reduced below 12 percent (wb). The concentration of VOCs in the drying medium, and the amount of emitted monoterpenes, increased with drying medium temperature. The composition of different monoterpenes in the drying medium was not influenced by the sawdust?s final moisture content. The relative amount of less volatile monoterpenes increased with drying medium temperature.

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