Wet synthesis, characterization of goethite nanoparticles and its application in catalytic pyrolysis of palm kernel shell in TGA

Abstract

Catalytic pyrolysis of biomass is a suitable means of obtaining high-yield bio-oil with reduced activation energy and char content. Goethite nanoparticles were synthesized via coprecipitation of FeCl2.4H2O and NaHCO3. TGA purged with N2 was used to study goethite’s catalytic effect on the thermal degradation of PKS. The obtained particles were characterized via instrumental analysis using BET, TEM, SEAD, and XRD gave multipoint SA of 309 m2/g & 0.276 cc/g; 18.33 nm; rings occurring at (101), (111), (021); and crystallinity of 51.51% with average size of 9.16 nm respectively. Their morphology was circular and needle-like shape. Its average crystallite size was 9.16 nm with a crystallinity of 51.51%. The 62.10% Fe in goethite was a suitable factor for its application as a catalyst in the thermal decomposition of PKS. The average Ea for uncatalyzed PKS were 53.45, 44.95, 47.09, 49.05 and 70.63 kJ/mol for order n =1, 0.30, 0.50, 0.67 and 2.00 respectively at the α of 0.2 while the average Ea for catalyzed PKS were 19.17, -17.70, 10.27, 12.64 and 52.69 kJ/mol for same order sequence at α of 0.71 using Coats–Redfern kinetics model. The goethite nanoparticles reduced Ea with higher α due to its special physicochemical properties.