Thermal Decomposition Behavior Study of Two Agricultural Solid Wastes for Production of Bio-Fuels by Pyrolysis Technology

Abstract

In this study pyrolysis kinetics of jute stick (white jute: Corchorus capsularis; tossa jute: Corchorus olitorius) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) seed available in Bangladesh have been investigated thermogravimetrically in a nitrogen atmosphere at heating rates of 10 and 60°C/min over a temperature range of 30 to 800°C. The two biomass solid wastes exhibited similar behaviors in that, the weight loss region is shifted to a higher temperature range and the weight loss rate is increased with increasing heating rate. The percentage of total weight loss is higher for jute stick and is lower for tamarind seed. The overall rate equation for the two biomass wastes has been modeled satisfactorily by one simplified equation from which the kinetic parameters of unreacted materials based on the Arrhenius form can be determined. The predicted rate equation compares fairly well with the measured TG and DTG data.

Keywords

• jute stick
• tamarind seed
• thermal decomposition behavior
• bio-fuels
• pyrolysis technology