Fuel characterization and thermal degradation kinetics of biomass from phytoremediation plants

Highlights

• First study on pyrolysis kinetics of biomass from phytoremediation energy crops.

• Soil pH value and metal content had effect on the fuel properties of energy crops.

• Positive and negative effects of the ash content on the biomass reactivity are observed.

• The activation energies are within 20–103.55 kJ mol⁻¹.

• The reaction orders are within 1.01–1.99.

Abstract

Biomass obtained from phytoremediation energy crops Miscanthus x giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita planted on different soils contaminated with heavy metals was thermogravimetrically studied and kinetically analyzed, assuming a three-pseudocomponent model. The results showed that Miscanthus x giganteus was able to uptake more heavy metals than Sida hermaphrodita. Soil influences on the fuel and thermal properties the crops were observed. The ash content of the biomass exhibited a negative effect on its reactivity. The extracted kinetic data are realistic and within reasonable ranges. The activation energies are within 20–103.55 kJ mol⁻¹. The reaction orders are within 1.01–1.99.