Investigation of pyrolysis kinetics and gaseous compounds emitted during charcoal production from woods commonly used in the Eastern Mediterranean

Air pollution caused by the traditional charcoal production industry is an environmental problem for developing countries. Avocado (Persea americana) and Lemon (Citrus limon) trees that are commonly used in the charcoal industry in the Eastern Mediterranean were chosen as representatives of charcoal raw material in a wood pyrolysis kinetic study that was conducted using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The weight loss was measured in a nitrogen atmosphere with a heating rate of 10 degrees C(.)min(-1) at a temperature range from 30 degrees C to 700 degrees C. Four main stages, denoted as dehydration, initial decomposition and both active and final decomposition, were registered in the wood thermal decomposition. The main gases produced were identified in the active decomposition stage for lemonwood and avocado wood, respectively, in the temperature range of 255 to 355 degrees C and 246 to 340 degrees C. The released gases in the biomass pyrolysis were measured on-line using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Main gas products of avocado and lemonwood pyrolysis were similar and included CO2, CO, H2O, CH4, and several organic compounds including methanol, formic acid, acetic acid, and furan. Charcoal production thermogravimetric analysis validated that the wood biomass thermal decomposition process has four stages: (1) water evaporation; (2) initial decomposition; (3) active decomposition, and (4) final decomposition. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd