Influence of Carbon Dioxide on the Thermal Degradation Process of Representative Components of Combustible Solid Wastes Using Thermogravimetric–Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The thermal mass loss, gaseous-phase reactions, and reaction kinetics of five representative components of combustible solid wastes (CSWs), i.e., rice straw (RS), eucalyptus wood, blank printing paper (BPP), high-density polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), under argon (Ar) and carbon dioxide (CO2) atmospheres were studied by thermogravimetric–mass spectrometry to observe the effect of CO2 on the thermal degradation process. The CO2 atmosphere had a bigger influence than the Ar atmosphere on the thermal mass loss of CSW; CO2 affected the main gaseous product distribution, which was attributed to the complex gas reforming reaction that occurred in the gaseous phase, and abundant CO2 promoted the formation of CO and CH4. When the temperature was over 650 °C, the CO2 reduction reaction occurred in the solid phase and the residue of RS and BPP was mainly silicon, calcium, and potassium oxidizers. The best fitting mechanism of the first main mass loss stage of CSW in an Ar atmosphere was mainly the nucl...