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Thermogravimetric analysis of walnut shell as pyrolysis feedstock

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Abstract

Thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of a biomass waste material, namely walnut shell, were investigated by using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The desired final temperature of 800 °C was achieved at three different heating rates (2, 10, and 15 °C min−1) under nitrogen flow (50 mL min−1). The TG and DTG curves exhibited three distinct zones that can mainly be attributed to removal of water, decomposition of hemicellulose + cellulose, and decomposition of lignin, respectively. The kinetic parameters (activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order) of active pyrolysis zone were determined by applying Arrhenius, Coats–Redfern, and Horowitz–Metzger methods to TG results. The values of activation energies were found to be between 45.6 and 78.4 kJ mol−1. There was a great agreement between the results of Arrhenius and Coats–Redfern methods while Horowitz–Metzger method yielded relatively higher results. The existence of kinetic compensation effect was evident.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Işık Yavuz for her valuable help during the analyses. The author would also like to thank Dr. Dilek Duranoğlu and Prof. Dr. Esen Bolat for their continuous support during the studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Yıldız Technical University, Davutpaşa Cad. No:127, Esenler, 34210, Istanbul, Turkey

    Korkut Açıkalın

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Açıkalın, K. Thermogravimetric analysis of walnut shell as pyrolysis feedstock. J Therm Anal Calorim 105, 145–150 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-1267-x

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