Pyrolytic Kinetics of Polystyrene Particle in Nitrogen Atmosphere: Particle Size Effects and Application of Distributed Activation Energy Method

Abstract

This work was motivated by a study of particle size effects on pyrolysis kinetics and models of polystyrene particle. Micro-size polystyrene particles with four different diameters, 5, 10, 15, and 50 µm, were selected as experimental materials. Activation energies were obtained by isoconversional methods, and pyrolysis model of each particle size and heating rate was examined through different reaction models by the Coats–Redfern method. To identify the controlling model, the Avrami–Eroféev model was identified as the controlling pyrolysis model for polystyrene pyrolysis. Accommodation function effect was employed to modify the Avrami–Eroféev model. The model was then modified to f(α) = nα0.39n − 1.15(1 − α)[−ln(1 − α)]1 − 1/n, by which the polystyrene pyrolysis with different particle sizes can be well explained. It was found that the reaction model cannot be influenced by particle geometric dimension. The reaction rate can be changed because the specific surface area will decrease with particle diameter. To separate each step reaction and identify their distributions to kinetics, distributed activation energy method was introduced to calculate the weight factor and kinetic triplets. Results showed that particle size has big impacts on both first and second step reactions. Smaller size particle can accelerate the process of pyrolysis reaction. Finally, sensitivity analysis was brought to check the sensitivity and weight of each parameter in the model.

Isolation and characterization of novel agrowaste‐based cellulosic micro fillers from Borassus flabellifer flower for polymer composite reinforcement

“…g(x) is the reaction mechanism model in the integral form. [36] 2.7 | Surface morphological analysis…”

Effects of liquid accelerant on the pyrolysis behaviors and kinetics of PMMA, a noncharring polymer

“…Therefore, it is of great significance to analyze the changes of the kinetic triple during the process of the pyrolysis. [ 38 ]…”

A Thermo-Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polystyrene Waste Review: A Systematic, Statistical, and Bibliometric Approach

“…Figure 5 visualizes box plots of data collected from the literature to visualize the distribution of virgin PS [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 ] and PS waste [ 54 , 55 , 67 , 94 , 96 , 102 , 103 , 104 ] degradation temperatures (initial, final, and maximum). The results contemplate data from TGA analysis of samples without catalyst in a nitrogen environment with a flow rate range of 10 to 100 mL min −1 and a heating rate of 3 to 100 °C min −1 .…”