Title : Elucidating the bioenergy potential of raw, hydrothermally carbonized and torrefied waste Arundo donax biomass in terms of physicochemical characterisation, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters
Abstract:
The present investigation aimed to understand the pyrolysis kinetic behavior of raw Arundo donax (Raw-AD), hydrothermally carbonized Arundo donax (HTC-AD), and torrefied Arundo donax (TOR-AD) in a thermogravimetric analyzer at dynamic heating rates. The physicochemical characterization analysis revealed that fuel properties have been enhanced after hydrothermal carbonization and torrefaction. The characterization techniques such as FE-SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD have been used to investigate the biomass surface morphology, inorganic elements, functional groups, and crystallinity. The kinetic parameters were calculated using the model-free methods of Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Vyazovkin (VZK), whereas Criado’s z(α) master plot was used to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The average activation energy was obtained to be 259.11, 262.53, and 250.13 kJ/mol for Raw-AD, 115.31, 110.39, and 107.26 kJ/mol for HTC-AD, and 243.46, 242.68, and 233.79 kJ/mol for TOR-AD using OFW, KAS, and VZK method respectively. The thermodynamic analysis divulged that pyrolysis proceeded through various reaction mechanisms.
Audience Takeaway:
- Waste Arundo donax was employed as a pyrolysis feedstock to generate bioenergy.
- Fuel properties after HTC and torrefaction was studied.
- Kinetic study utilizing the OFW, KAS, and Vyazovkin iso-conversional models.
- Reaction mechanism using Criado’s master plot.
- Thermodynamic study was conducted to understand the feasibility of process
