Thermal decomposition kinetics of forest residue

The aim of this study is to obtain the kinetics parameters of combustion for forest residue from white spruce, white pine and balsam fir needles under inert atmosphere. The biomass material particle size of 150 um prepared from each of these species was subjected to the combustion process at five different heating rates: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50°C min1. TGA was used to analyse the data of the weight degradation over the increase in temperature up to 800°C. The experimental data was then used to develop a reaction kinetic model to obtain the activation energy, E. The proximate and ultimate analysis of the species was carried out. The conversion degree a occurred at different temperature range when different heating rates were applied. The activation energy related to the combustion of white spruce needles was the highest (262.4 kJ mol1) compared to white pine (197.14 kJ mol1) and balsam firneedles (139.94 kJ mol1). © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information.