Determination of Kinetic Parameters of Biomass Samples Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

In this work, thermogravimetric analysis is carried out on four different biomass samples such as bagasse, coir-pith, groundnut shell and casuarina leaves to study their thermal behaviour. Analysis is put through in an inert nitrogen atmosphere from ambient temperature to 800 degrees C at a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min. Three reaction zones corresponding to dehydration, hemicellulose-cellulose degradation and lignin degradation are observed for all four biomass samples. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy, pre-exponential factor and order of the reaction for all the components of samples are determined using the simple Arrhenius equation. (c) 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 256-266, 2014