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Energy potential and thermogravimetric study of pyrolysis kinetics of biomass wastes

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Abstract

The use of agricultural wastes for energy conversion has been widely studied as renewable and carbon neutral energy sources. This paper aims to evaluate the energetic potential of six agricultural wastes—sugarcane bagasse, bean pods, corn stover, pineapple crown leaves, white cotton and natural coloured cotton stalks, through their characterization and pyrolysis kinetic study. The energetic potential of biomasses was evaluated by ultimate and proximate analysis, higher heating value (HHV), apparent density, and kinetic parameters of conversion and apparent activation energy (Ea) determined by Model-Free kinetics though thermogravimetric analysis data. The results indicate energetic density for dry basis biomasses, such as moisture content less than 7%, volatiles higher than 77% and moderate ash content. The HHVs were higher for the biomass with low O:C ratio. The Ea values increased with increasing O:C ratio and were also influenced by the biomass ash content. Among the studied biomasses, PCL are less explored for energy application, although the results confirm its potential for application in thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis or combustion.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) for financial support, Central Analítica/NUPPRAR/UFRN and LabTam/NUPPRAR/UFRN for the facilities, and Estivas Louis sugar cane company for sugar bagasse samples and EMBRAPA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PPGEQ, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Janduir E. Silva, Guilherme Q. Calixto, Marcus A. F. Melo & Renata M. Braga

  2. PPGCEM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Cassia C. de Almeida & Dulce M. A. Melo

  3. Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Dulce M. A. Melo & Julio C. O. Freitas

  4. Dep. Eng. de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Marcus A. F. Melo

  5. EAJ, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN, Brazil

    Renata M. Braga

  6. Laboratório de Tecnologia Ambiental, UFRN, Campus Universitário s/n, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Renata M. Braga

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  1. Janduir E. Silva
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Correspondence to Renata M. Braga.

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Silva, J.E., Calixto, G.Q., de Almeida, C.C. et al. Energy potential and thermogravimetric study of pyrolysis kinetics of biomass wastes. J Therm Anal Calorim 137, 1635–1643 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08048-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08048-4

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