Thermal and Kinetic Studies on Biomass Degradation via Thermogravimetric Analysis: A Combination of Model-Fitting and Model-Free Approach

Abstract

Thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of two agricultural (soy and oat hulls) and two forestry biomass (willow and spruce) residues were investigated using a unique combination of model-fitting and model-free methods. Experiments were carried out in an inert atmosphere at different heating rates. Both single step and multistep models were explored in deriving activation energies, frequency factors, and mechanisms of all four biomass residues. For the single step models, activation energy values ranged from 107.2 kJ/mol for willow and 139.7 kJ/mol for soy hull, and the frequency factors for both materials were 1.1 × 10 9 and 2.66 × 10 12 s –1 , respectively. The multistep models gave further insight into the different mechanisms across the full degradation spectrum. There was an observed difference between the number of distinct steps/mechanisms for the agriculture-based versus wood-based biomass materials, with pyrolysis occurring in three distinct steps for the agricultural biomass residues while the woody residues degraded in two steps. The difference in the number of distinct steps can be attributed to the composition and distribution of components of the biomass, which would differ based on the nature and source of the biomass.

TGA-FTIR Analysis of Biomass Samples Based on the Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Hemicellulose, Cellulose, and Lignin

“…This last peak can be explained by the decomposition of carbon that is absorbed by the inorganics and volatilized at high temperatures. The mass loss rates and corresponding temperatures are within the ranges that have been published for several biomass feedstocks [47][48][49][50][51][52].…”

Pyridinium-furfuryl-modified granular agro-waste adsorbent for orthophosphate recovery

“…Raw oat hulls have two thermal events with peak maxima at 291 °C and 336 °C, while chitosan shows a single major peak at 305 °C. 20,40 The early thermal event for the oat hulls can be attributed to its high hemicellulose content, where it decomposes at elevated temperatures. Lignins may also decompose at temperatures near 350 °C.…”

Efficient Isolation of Cellulosic Fibers from Coffee Parchment via Natural Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvent Pretreatment for Nanocellulose Production

“…300 °C) contributed to the xylan (hemicellulose) degradation, and a stronger peak at 357 °C was mainly ascribed to the cellulose decomposition. 70,72 After the pretreatment processes, the shoulder peak was found to be disappeared, but a single pyrolysis peak at 361 °C (for DES-CP) and 350 °C (for DES-AHP CP) was still visible. The results indicated evidence of the efficient hemicellulose removal and the cellulose remaining during the MW-NADES process and sequential DES-AHP pretreatment.…”