Physicochemical characterization and kinetic study of pine needle for pyrolysis process

Abstract

The present study concerns physicochemical characterization and pyrolysis kinetics of pine needle. The physiochemical properties of pine needle were analyzed to examine the potential for pyrolysis. The physiochemical properties such as proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, lignocellulosic composition, heating values and FTIR spectroscopy of pine needle were investigated. The pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a non-isothermal thermogravimetric analyzer (TG) under an inert atmosphere and operated at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20 °C min−1) to understand the thermal degradation behavior. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy, pre-exponential factor and reaction order were evaluated by using iso-conversional methods proposed by Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW) and Coats–Redfern using TG data. The average activation energy of pine needle derived from KAS and OFW models is found to be 70.97 and 79.13 kJ mol−1, respectively. The degree of conversion of pine needles on heat treatment by using the kinetic parameters of the proposed model is found to be in good agreement with experimental data. Maximum error limit between experimental data and proposed model data is 9.8, 6.8 and 10.6 % for 5, 10 and 20 °C min−1, respectively. Analysis of the results proves the suitability of pine needle as a potential feedstock for pyrolysis.