(332a) Variability of Sulfur Content in Loblolly Pine Residues across Age, Soil Type, and Harvest Method

The variability of sulfur content in biomass feedstocks can negatively impact a biorefinery using
thermochemical conversion technologies due to deactivation of catalysts and equipment wear. It also
poses a challenge for designing and sizing sulfur removal systems. A collection of loblolly pine residues
from South Carolina was sorted into anatomical fractions and analyzed to find correlations between
sulfur content and soil type, age, and harvest method. Logging residues collected from similarly aged
trees grown on coastal plain soil type showed on average higher sulfur content as compared to the
sulfur content of the samples collected from sandhill and piedmont soil regions. While looking at the age
factor, logging residues collected from the sandhill soil regions displayed decreasing sulfur contents for
trees of 16 to 41 years old. Furthermore, the bark and needles anatomical fractions had proportionally
higher sulfur-percentage-to-mass-percentage ratios as compared to the limbs and particulates fractions.
This study suggests that soil type, age and harvest method are important factors when selecting loblolly
pine residues for thermochemical conversion.