Pyrolysis Decomposition Kinetics of Microcrystalline Cellulose and Curaua Fiber: Insight of Reaction Models by Using Vyazovkin Method

Abstract

This paper provides a full understanding of the pyrolysis mechanism of plant biomass (curaua) and cellulose – two materials that involve complex degradation stages. The chemical/physical reactions occurring in the corresponding mass loss stages are described in detail for each material. Multi-step degradation stages are identified by using Vyazovkin and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods and the individual contribution are discussed in terms of the chemical and physical steps involved in the process. The determination of multi-stages processes are rapidly determined applying an easy-to-use method as a first approach. We expect that this study helps to develop an understanding of the thermal degradation for future complex materials as well as to establish the initial guesses and to give an insight into the overall biomass decomposition. Final results can help to design of pyrolysis reactor and to develop new kinetic approaches.

Keywords

• degradation kinetics
• microcrystalline cellulose
• curaua fiber
• complex systems