EUBCE 2024 - Mahendra TIWARI - Kinetics of High-Pressure Pyrolysis of Indian and Finnish Biomass Feedstocks using Distributed Activation Energy Model

Kinetics of High-Pressure Pyrolysis of Indian and Finnish Biomass Feedstocks using Distributed Activation Energy Model

Short Introductive summary

In this comprehensive study, the thermal decomposition behaviour of two biomass wastes, rice straw (RS) and pine bark (PB), was investigated using high-pressure pyrolysis with a collaboration between IIT Madras, India, and Åbo Akademi University, Finland. The experiments were carried out at different pressures (1, 10, 20, and 30 bar) and heating rates (5, 10, and 20 °C min?¹) and different gas atmosphere (argon (Ar) and carbon dioxide (CO2)). Remarkably, robustness was demonstrated by the biochar yield, which was consistent with change in heating rates. The aim of the study was to obtain the mass loss behaviour of biomass at high pressure and perform a kinetic modelling study, which might be useful for process design. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was used to perform the kinetic modelling of the high-pressure pyrolysis data. With a high goodness of fit, the model demonstrated its validity and resilience by effectively describing the experimental data. Overall, the present study highlighted the effects of pressure and the CO2 environment on biomass conversion and offered a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying thermal decomposition and gas evolution.

M. Tiwari, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, INDIA
M. Jaleta Dirbeba, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FINLAND
J. Lehmusto, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FINLAND
P. Yrjas, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FINLAND
R. Vinu, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, INDIA