No abstract

In spite of the many studies performed, there is not yet a kinetic model to predict the thermal degradation of cellulose in isothermal and nonisothermal conditions for the full extent of conversion. A model proposed by the authors was tested on non-oxidising thermogravimetric data. The method consisted of initially fitting several isothermal and non-isothermal curves, then obtaining a critical temperature and an energy barrier from the set of fittings that resulted from different experimental conditions. While the critical temperature, approximately 226 °C, represented the minimum temperature for the degradation process, the degradation rate at a given temperature was related to both the critical temperature and the energy barrier. These results were compared with those observed in other materials. The quality of fittings obtained was superior to any other reported to date, and the results obtained from each single curve were in line with each other. The peak area. Represents the amount of sample involved in each transformation process, in linear heating conditions Fitting parameter, related to the peak shape in linear heating conditions. If =1, then is 4 times the maximum transformation rate per unit of sample mass KeywordsThe time elapsed from the beginning of the experiment to the instant where the maximum mass loss rate is observed, in linear heating experiments Fitting parameter related to the peak asymmetry ( =1 for a symmetric peak) yiso(t) Transformation rate, as a function of time, in isothermal conditionsThe peak area. Represents the amount of sample involved in each transformation process, in isothermal conditions