Thermogravimetric and kinetic analyses of the thermal decomposition of fuel wood

Abstract

The results of studies of the thermal transformations of granulated wood biofuel performed by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry in an atmosphere of argon at heating rates of 5, 10, 20, and 30 K/min are reported in this paper. The results of the analysis were used for the determination of the preexponential factor and activation energy of the thermal decomposition of wood biofuel based on the Kissinger, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, and Ozava–Flynn–Wall isoconversion model-free methods. The values of activation energy for the release of volatile substances in the course of the thermal decomposition of wood granules varied in ranges of 87–250 and 76–242 kJ/mol.