Open AccessCharacterization and kinetic modeling for pyrolytic conversion of cotton stalks
Author(s) -
Fawzy Samer,
Osman Ahmed I.,
Farrell Charlie,
AlMuhtaseb Ala'a H.,
Harrison John,
AlFatesh Ahmed S.,
Fakeeha Anis H.,
Doran John,
Yang Haiping,
Rooney David W.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
energy science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.638
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2050-0505
DOI - 10.1002/ese3.961
Subject(s) - kinetic energy , activation energy , pyrolysis , thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , biomass (ecology) , isothermal process , thermal decomposition , decomposition , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , biological system , process engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , engineering , oceanography , quantum mechanics , geology , biology
Herein, cotton stalk biomass was initially characterized to understand its physicochemical properties as a raw material for biochar production. Furthermore, thermal analysis was conducted using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the results were further utilized to evaluate the cotton stalk's kinetic behavior under thermal decomposition in an inert environment. Advanced kinetics and technology solutions (AKTS) software was for the first time employed to compute the kinetic parameters of cotton stalk pyrolysis, as well as provide kinetic predictions under isothermal conditions. Three methods were used to compute the activation energy ( E a ) value, namely ASTM‐E698, Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa (FWO), and Friedman's differential iso‐conversional model. The results obtained using the ASTM‐E698 method indicate an activation energy of 127.23 kJ·mol −1 . Furthermore, the FWO method presented an E a value ranging 35‐250 kJ·mol −1 . The differential iso‐conversional method is the most robust approach as it adequately represents the complex nature of lignocellulosic biomass decomposition, showing an E a range between 4 and 250 kJ·mol −1 . Based on the differential iso‐conversional method, kinetic predictions under isothermal conditions were provided. The predictions offer valuable insight for industrial‐scale biochar project developers in relation to production throughput optimization. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters obtained can be utilized in process modeling.