Thermogravimetric analyses of combustion of lignocellulosic materials in N2/O2 and CO2/O2 atmospheres

The combustion of paper, fruit waste and plant residue mixtures representing the lignocellulosic materials of municipal solid waste (MSW) in different atmospheres ( 80 N 2 / 20 O 2 , 70 N 2 / 30 O 2 , 60 N 2 / 40 O 2 , 50 N 2 / 50 O 2 , 80 CO 2 / 20 O 2 , 70 CO 2 / 30 O 2 , 60 CO 2 / 40 O 2 , 50 CO 2 / 50 O 2 ) was analyzed thermogravimetrically. Replacement of 80% N2 by 80% CO2 resulted in a slightly later ignition, a lower maximum weight loss rate and a change in reactions occurring above 600 °C; however, as the oxygen concentration increased from 20% to 50% in CO2/O2 atmosphere, the ignition temperature decreased from 318.5 to 310.8 °C and the maximum weight loss rate increased from 20.82% to 23.57%/min. An oxygen content of 30% in the CO2/O2 atmosphere achieved a similar combustion performance as a 80N2/20O2. The fruit waste mixture had the least residual weight (about 5%) and the earliest ignition (about 220 °C). This work contributes to the comprehensive understanding of lignocellulosic materials combustion and development of MSW oxy-fuel combustion.