Torrefaction is a biomass thermal treatment process at low temperature (200-300 °C) in the absence of oxygen and mostly at near atmospheric pressure. It is a mild py­rolysis process that destroys the fibrous structure of biomass, increasing its calorific value as well as its hydrophobic nature to improve biomass stability during storage. Since torrefied biomass is more friable compared to its original state, energy con­sumption for biomass particle-size reduction is lower. It has also been shown that torrefied biomass particles can be fluidized more smoothly compared to untreated biomass [5]. There are two main torrefaction methods: (1) the wet process [6] and

(2) the dry process. In wet torrefaction, biomass is treated with hot compressed water resulting in three groups of products: solid fuel, aqueous compounds, and gases. Dry torrefaction is an intensive drying at higher temperatures [7]. One of the drawbacks of the wet process is the necessity to separate the excess water from the torrefied biomass and liquid by-products with relatively high organic and mineral contents. Dry torrefaction is typically performed at temperatures in the range of 230-300 °C in the absence of oxygen, at near atmospheric pressure and a relatively low particle heating rate (lower than 50 °C/min). The mass and energy yield from the original biomass to the torrefied biomass is strongly dependent on torrefaction temperature, reaction time, and biomass type.