Thermogravimetric investigation on the thermal reactivity of biomass during slow pyrolysis

Agricultural biomass samples such as sunflower shell, colza seed, cotton refuse, and olive refuse were submitted to nonisothermal thermogravimetric analysis to examine the effects of the sample properties on the thermal reactivity during slow pyrolysis with heating rate of 20 K/min from ambient to 1273 K. The activation energies were determined in the range of 37.4-46.6 kJ/mol. The proximate- and ultimate- analysis results and the major constituents in biomass such as hemicellulosics, cellulosics, and lignin were found to have significant influences on thermal behavior such as the maximum decomposition rates and their temperatures, and the char yields.