Pyrolysis and kinetic analyses of Camel grass ( Cymbopogon schoenanthus ) for bioenergy

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.12.096
• Publication Date: 2016-12-24T23:15:46Z
• Authors: Muhammad Aamer Me...; Guangbin Ye; Huibo Luo; Chenguang Liu; Sana Malik; Ifrah Afzal; Jianren Xu; Muhammad Sajjad A...
• Keywords: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology; Models, Theoretical; 7. Clean energy; Heating; Kinetics; Biofuels; Thermogravimetry; Thermodynamics; Biomass; Cymbopogon

The aim of this work was to study the thermal degradation of grass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus) under an inert environment at three heating rates, including 10, 30, and 50°Cmin-1 in order to evaluate its bioenergy potential. Pyrolysis experiments were performed in a simultaneous Thermogravimetry-Differential Scanning Calorimetry analyzer. Thermal data were used to analyze kinetic parameters through isoconversional models of Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissenger-Akahira-Sunose (KSA) methods. The pre-exponential factors values have shown the reaction to follow first order kinetics. Activation energy values were shown to be 84-193 and 96-192kJmol-1 as calculated by KSA and FWO methods, respectively. Differences between activation energy and enthalpy of reaction values (∼5 to 6kJmol-1) showed product formation is favorable. The Gibb's free energy (173-177kJmol-1) and High Heating Value (15.00MJkg-1) have shown the considerable bioenergy potential of this low-cost biomass.