Co-pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse with petroleum residue. Part I: thermogravimetric analysis

Thermal decomposition under nitrogen of sugarcane bagasse, petroleum residue and their blends was studied by thermogravimetry (TG) at different heating rates (10, 20, 40 and 60°C/min). Thermal decomposition kinetic parameters were determined. Sugarcane bagasse pyrolysis was described as the sum of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin individual contributions. First order equations were used to determine the bagasse component thermal decomposition kinetics. Activation energies calculated were 235, 105, and 26 kJ/mol for cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, respectively. Thermal decomposition of petroleum residue can be explained by the additive effect of its three major fractions, following kinetic equation orders of 2.5, 2.3 and 1.5 with activation energies of 100, 180, and 220 kJ/mol, respectively. It has been found that during thermal decomposition of bagasse/petroleum residue mixtures, no significant interaction occurred in the solid phase between the components under the experimental conditions investigated. The kinetic parameters associated with the bagasse/petroleum residue mixture involved the sum of bagasse and petroleum residue individual component kinetic parameters. The information obtained can be used to develop a correlation between the thermogravimetric data and the feedstock composition.