Combustion Analysis and Devolatilazation Kinetics of Gmelina, Mango, Neem and Tropical Almond Woods under Oxidative Condition

Abstract

Thermogravimetric method was used to study the devolatilization characteristics and kinetics of Gmelina wood (Gmelina arborea), Mango wood (Mangifera indica), Neem wood (Azadiracta indica) and Tropical Almond wood (Terminalia catappa) under synthetic air condition at the heating rate of 30oC/min. It was observed that all the samples followed a two-stage reaction mechanism between 200oC and 500oC clearly indicating regions of volatile oxidation and char combustion. The maximum rate of weight loss (%/oC) are 2.20, 1.50, 1.25 and 1.60 for Gmelina wood, Mango wood, Neem wood and Tropical almond wood respectively and occurred at peak temperatures of 310oC, 322oC, 320oC and 320oC in the same order of sample presentation. During the oxidative stage, the activation energy of the samples, based on the Arrhenius correlation are 125,108, 142 and 113 KJ/mol respectively while during the char combustion stage the activation energy are 257, 210, 281 and 345 KJ/mol in that same order. This shows that the samples would require less energy input for their thermochemical conversion to bioenergy and would not pose any barrier to their use in combustion reactors. The samples are thus good potential feedstock among the league of biomass resources for present and future bioenergy fuels

Keywords

• Biomass, Thermogravimetric analysis, combustion, kinetic study, activation energy, reaction order.

References

1. P. M. Connor, “UK renewable energy policy: a review”, Renew. Sust. Energy Reviews vol. 7, pp 65-82, February 2003.
2. X. Zhang, M. Xu, R. Sun, and L. Sun, “Study on biomass pyrolysis kinetics”, J Eng. Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 128 (3), pp 493-496, March 2004, doi: doi:10.1115/1.2135816
3. S. Munir, S. S. Daood, W. Nimmo, A. M. Cunliffe, and B.M Gibbs “Thermal analysis and devolatilization kinetics of cotton stalk, sugar cane bagasse and shea meal under nitrogen and air atmospheres”, Bioresour Technol. Vol.100 (3), 1413-1418, February 2009. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.07.065
4. K.G. Mansaray, and A. E. Ghaly, “Determination of reaction kinetics of rice husks in air using thermogravimetric analysis”, Energy Sources vol.21 (10), 899-911, 1999 DOI:10.1080/00908319950014272
5. M.G. Gronli, G. Varhegyi, and C. D. Blasi, “Thermogravimetric analysis and devolatilization kinetics of wood”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. vol.41 (17), pp 4201-4208, July 2002.DOI: 10.1021/ie0201157
6. A. J. Tsamba, W. Yang, and W. Blasiak, “Pyrolysis Characteristics and Global Kinetics of Coconut and Cashew nut shells”. Fuel Proc. Technol. vol. 87 (6), pp 530, June 2006. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2005.12.002
7. A. A. Zabaniotou, E. K. Kantarelis, and D. C. Theodoropoulos, “Sunflower shell utilization for energetic purposes in an integrated approach of energy crops: laboratory study pyrolysis and kinetics”, Bioresour. Technol. vol. 99 (8), pp 3174-3181, May doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2007.05.060
8. P.Luangkiattikhun, C. Tangsathitkulchai, and M. Tangsathitkulchai, “Non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis of oil-palm solid wastes”. Bioresour. Technol vol.99(5), pp 986-997, March 2008

9. W. H. Chen, and P. C. Kuo, “A study on torrefaction of various biomass materials and its impact on lignocellulosic structure simulated by a thermogravimetry”, Energy vol. 35 (6), pp2580-2586, June 2010. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2010.02.054
10. S. S. Idris, N. A. Rahman, K. Ismail, A. B. Alias, Z. A. Rashid, M. J. Aris, “Investigation on thermochemical behaviour of low rank Malaysian coal, oil palm biomass and their blends during pyrolysis via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)”. Bioresour Technol., vol.101 (12), pp 4584- 4592, June 2010.
11. L. Wilson, W. Yang, W. Blasiak, G. R. John, and C. F. Mhilu, “Thermal characterization of tropical biomass feedstocks”. Energy Conv. Mgmt. vol. 52 (1), pp191- January 2011. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2010.06.058
12. E. J. White, W. J. Catallo, and B. L. Legendre, “Biomass Pyrolysis Kinetics: a comparative critical review with relevant agricultural residue case studies”, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis vol. 91 (1), pp1-33 May 2011. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2011.01.004
13. M. V. Kok, and E. Özgür “Thermal analysis and kinetics of biomass samples”. Fuel Proc. Technol. vol. , pp739-743 February 2013. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2012.10.010
14. H. H. Sait, H. Ahmad, A. S. Arshad, and N. A. Farid, “Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of date palm biomass using thermogravimetric analysis”. Bioresour Technol. vol.118, pp382-389, August 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.04.081
15. Y. El may, J. Mejdi, D. Sophie, T. Gwenaelle, and S. Rachid, S. “Study on the thermal behavior of different date palm residues: Characterization and devolatilization kinetics under inert and oxidative atmospheres”. Energy, vol 44 (1), pp702-709, August doi:10.1016/j.energy.2012.05.022
16. D. Vamvuka, and S. Sfakiotakis, “Combustion behaviour of biomass fuels and their blends with lignite” Thermochimica Acta, vol. 526 (1-2), pp192- , November 2011. doi:10.1016/j.tca.2011.09.021
17. O. Senneca, “Kinetics of pyrolysis, combustion and gasification of three biomass fuels”. Fuel Proc. Technology, vol. 88 (1), pp87-97, January 2007. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2006.09.002
18. I. Simkovic, and K. Csomorova, “Thermogravimetric analysis of agricultural residues: oxygen effect and environmental impact” J. Appl. Polymer Sc; vol.100 (2), 1318-1322, January 2006. DOI: 10.1002/app.23818
19. H. Haykiri-Acma, “Combustion characteristics of different biomass materials”. Energy Conv. Mgmt. vol.44 (1), pp155-162, January 2003. PII: S 01 9 6 - 8 04 (01) 002 00-X
20. D. K. Shen, S. Gu, K. H. Luo, A. V. Bridgwater, and M. X. Fang, “Kinetic study on thermal decomposition of woods in oxidative environment”. Fuel vol.88 (6), pp1024-1030, June 2009. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2008.10.034
21. A. Aboulkas, K. El harfi, and A. El Bouadili, “Thermal degradation behaviors of polyethylene and polypropylene. Part I: Pyrolysis kinetics and mechanisms”. Energy Conv. Mgmt. vol.51 (7) pp1363- , July2010. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2009.12.017
22. A. Gani, and I Naruse, “Effect of cellulose and lignin content on pyrolysis and combustion characteristics for several types of biomass”. Renew. Energy, vol.32 (4), pp649-661, April 2007. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2006.02.017
23. S. W. Park, and C. H. Jang “Effects of pyrolysis temperature on changes in fuel characteristics of biomass char”. Energy vol.39(1), pp187-195, March doi:10.1016/j.energy.2012.01.031
24. P. Ghetti, R. Leandro, A. Luciana, “Thermal analysis of biomass and corresponding pyrolysis products”. Fuel vol.75 (5), pp565-573, April 1996. 0016- (95)00296-0
25. L. Xiang-guo, M. Bao-guo, X. Li, H. Zhen-wu, and W. Xin-gang, “Thermogravimetric analysis of the co- combustion of the blends with high ash coal and waste tyres”. Thermochimica Acta 441 (1), pp79-83, February 2006. doi:10.1016/j.tca.2005.11.044
26. S. G. Sahu, P. Sarkar, N. Chakraborty, A. K. Adak, “Thermogravimetric assessment of combustion characteristics of blends of a coal with different biomass chars”, Fuel Proc. Technology 91(3), pp369- , March 2010. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2009.12.001
27. A. W Coats, J. P.Redfern,”Kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric data”. Nature vol. 20168 – 69, January 1964. doi:10.1038/201068a0
28. E. D. Rainville, Special functions. Macmillan Company, New York, 1960, pp22 &44 Appendix A