Study on kinetics, thermodynamics and co-pyrolysis studies of sugarcane bagasse and expanded polystyrene

Abstract

The kinetic studies on co-pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse, and expanded polystyrene (waste thermocol) was performed using a thermogravimetric analyzer to decipher the mechanism of co-pyrolysis at 5, 10, 15, and 20°C min−1 and to estimate the kinetic triplet and thermodynamics of the co-pyrolysis process. The kinetic parameter values were estimated using Maples first order fitting process.. The co-pyrolysis experiments was performed in a semi-batch reactor at 10°C min−1 in an inert nitrogen atmosphere, from ambient temperatures upto 700°C. The outcome revealed that the optimum temperature and blending ratio was 550°C and 1:3 blending ratio of (sugarcane bagasse:thermocol waste) for the optimum bio-oil yield of 66.75 wt. %. The characterization of the co-pyrolysis bio-oil using FT-IR revealed the presence of more amount of aromatic compounds and hydrocarbons. The increase in aromatic compounds was mostly due to the addition of thermocol waste, which is an aromatic polymer.