Kinetic Analysis on the Non-Isothermal Degradation of Plum Stone Waste by Thermogravimetric Analysis and Integral Master-Plots Method

Abstract

In this study, pyrolysis of plum stone was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis in a nitrogen atmosphere at heating rates of 5, 10, 20 and 40 °C min-1. Pyrolysis characteristics and the thermal-decomposition rate were significantly affected by variation in the heating rate. However, the heating rate slightly affected the total yield of the volatile matters. Activation energy of the pyrolysis reaction was evaluated by model-free methods, Friedman and Kissingere-Akahirae-Sunose. Results of the Master-Plots method indicated that the most probable reaction model function was the nth order reaction model function as f(x) = (1-x) 3.11, A = 8.02x1012 under a mean activation energy of 150.61 kJ mol-1. Proximate and ultimate analysis showed that plum stone can be considered as a favourable source for energy production owing to its low moisture and ash content, and high volatile matter ratio and moderate heating value. © The Author(s) 2015.