Devolatilization of African Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Husk studied by TG-MS

Abstract

Using simultaneous thermogravimetrical analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy, the pyrolysis of African palm husk, using several heat rates and programs was performed. Seven relations of mass/charge were followed of the evolved gas of the pyrolysis process, fitting the kinetics and the mass spectroscopy signals to the distributed activation energy model (DAEM) with different numbers of pseudo-components. Fitting with four pseudo-components proved to be the best for modeling the thermal degradation process. Kinetic parameters were not affected by the heating rate or program employed, which agrees with other reports for similar biomass. Methane, methanol formaldehyde, furfural were successfully fitted to the DAEM model, nevertheless CO 2 and NO 2 were not able to be represented by this model due to its production in secondary reactions in gaseous phase.Keywords: TG-MS, pyrolysis, African Palm, husk. RESUMENSe estudió la pirólisis del cuesco de palma africana utilizando diferentes programas de calentamiento, recurriendo al uso de la técnica simultánea de análisis termogravimétrico acoplado a espectrometría de masas. En los gases de evolución, se siguieron las intensidades de señal de espectrometría de masas de siete relaciones m/z. La cinética de pirólisis de este residuo del procesamiento de aceite de palma se ajustó al modelo de distribución de energías de activación con diferentes números de pseudo-componentes. Los resultados del ajuste mostraron que son necesarios al menos cuatro pseudo-componentes para modelar satisfactoriamente los perfiles termogravimétricos de la pirólisis del cuesco de palma. Se encontró que la velocidad de calentamiento no afecta significativamente los parámetros del modelo cinético, los cuales se encuentran en concordancia con los reportados en la literatura para biomasas similares. Los perfiles de las curvas de intensidad de señal para las relaciones m/z seleccionadas se modelaron utilizando los parámetros cinéticos obtenidos del ajuste de los datos termogravimétricos, lográndose resultados satisfactorios para las relaciones m/z correspondientes a fragmentos de moléculas como metano, metanol, formaldehído y furfural. La falta de ajuste de las intensidades de señal correspondientes a CO 2 y NO 2 se atribuyó a que la formación de estos compuestos es consecuencia no sólo de la descomposición de la biomasa, sino también a su aparición resultado de reacciones secundarias en fase gaseosa.Palabras clave: TG-MS, pirólisis, palma africana, cuesco.

The effect of ZnSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3 on the pyrolysis of cocoa shells: A tg-FTIR study

“…This suggests a substantial alteration in the cocoa shell pyrolysis mechanism induced by the presence of both salts. Analogous findings have been documented in the pyrolysis of other biomasses such as empty fruit bunches from oil palm [ 22 ] and African palm husk [ 52 ]. In contrast, in the pyrolysis of residues from the cassava starch industry, ferric sulfate exhibited a pronounced influence on lignin pyrolysis, while exerting negligible effects on cellulose and hemicellulose pyrolysis [ 54 ].…”

“…This implies that both catalysts modulate the concentrations of compounds released in the evolved gases, albeit without generating novel compounds. Similar shifts in product distribution have been noted in the pyrolysis of other biomasses under the influence of these catalysts, despite their protective or negligible impact on kinetic parameters [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 52 ]. Protective effects of these metals on cellulose have been suggested by Refs.…”

“…A subsequent peak, characterized by an elevated decomposition rate, manifests between 530 and 650 K, which indicates of cellulose pyrolysis. The literature commonly reports the maximum mass loss for cellulose to fall within the range of 550–650 K. Finally, lignin pyrolysis is documented to occur within the temperature span of 433–750 K, featuring notably low mass loss rates with maxima around 650 K [ 22 , 44 , 52 , 53 ].…”