title: Non-isothermal pyrolysis characteristics of giant sensitive plants using thermogravimetric analysis.
abstract: A giant sensitive plant (Mimosa pigra L.) or Mimosa is a fast growing woody weed that poses a major environmental problem in agricultural and wet land areas. It may have potential to be used as a renewable energy source. In this work, thermal behaviour of dried Mimosa was investigated under inert atmosphere in a thermogravimetric analyzer at the heating rates of 10, 30, and 50 degrees C/min from room temperature to 1000 degrees C. Pyrolysis kinetic parameters in terms of apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor were determined. Two stages of major mass loss occurred during the thermal decomposition process, corresponding to degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose between 200-375 degrees C and decomposition of lignin around 375-700 degrees C. The weed mainly devolatilized around 200-400 degrees C, with total volatile yield of about 60%. The char in final residue was about 20%. Mass loss and mass loss rates were strongly affected by heating rate. It was found that an increase in heating rate resulted in a shift of thermograms to higher temperatures. As the heating rates increased, average devolatilization rates were observed to increase while the activation energy decreased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thanasit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wongsiriamnuay
authors.forename: Nakorn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tippayawong
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D018533:Biomass; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D004777:Environment; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007700:Kinetics; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry; D031298:Mimosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013818:Thermogravimetry / Q000379:methods*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D012997:Solvents; C007916:hemicellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D010100:Oxygen