Characterization and kinetics of thermal decomposition behavior of plum and fig pomace biomass

Abstract

Redirecting waste biomass back into the economy can reduce their burden on the environment. The use of waste biomass for the production of fuels, value-added materials or natural fillers has significant economic and environmental benefits. Physico-chemical characterization of waste biomass (plum pomace and fig pomace) was done by proximate, elemental, biochemical analysis, FTIR and SEM analysis. The calorific value of both biomasses can be compared with the calorific value of lignite, which rises their potential use as a solid biofuel. The combustion behavior of biomass was investigated by thermal analysis techniques. Based on thermal degradation experiments performed at four heating rates a kinetic analysis of the biomass decomposition process was accomplished. The kinetic study was done using Kissinger method, Ozawa method, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method, Starink method, and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) method. The value of activation energy obtained by different kinetic methods was ∼210 kJ/mol for plum pomace and ∼162 kJ/mol for fig pomace. Estimated activation energy values were used to calculate thermodynamic parameters. In addition to the fact that the obtained results can serve as a useful reference for the design of pyrolysis reactors, this research has ecological significance because it solves the problem of solid waste disposal.