Kinetic Modeling of Cellulose Fractional Pyrolysis

The kinetics of cellulose fractional pyrolysis was studied for the first time in the temperature range of 200-900 degrees C, with 25 degrees C increment under nitrogen atmosphere. A detailed analysis of the major and minor pyrolysis products was performed using a System for Thermal Diagnostic Studies (STDS) and FTIR techniques. A semiglobal kinetic model was proposed, with products grouped into kinetic lumps, based on their formation profile similarity. Kinetic parameters (pre-exponential factor A and activation energy E-a) for formation of major products grouped into heavy volatiles 1 lump (levoglucosan and anhydrosugars) and light volatiles 2 lump (furans and carbonyls) were obtained based on the performed experimental studies. The final model accurately predicts not only the weight loss, the temperature-distribution of major lumped products, and the total yields of tar and gases from the fractional pyrolysis of cellulose but also shows a good performance toward literature data for experimental studies of others.