A generalisation of the non-parametric, NPK (SVD) kinetic analysis method - Part 1. Isothermal experiments

The non-parametric method of kinetic analysis using singular value decomposition of a matrix of data values, as proposed by Nomen and Sempere, is applied to isothermal experiments. It is demonstrated that a correction has to be applied to obtain the value of the pre-exponential constant A. The differential analysis method is extended to integral analysis and, when tested using simulated data, shows very accurate retrieval of the starting values of activation energy and pre-exponential constants. A set of data for the decomposition of calcite under vacuum, treated isothermally was taken from the ICTAC study of kinetic methods. The results obtained agree reasonably with those reported from the study. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.