title: Pyrolysis kinetics of raw and hydrothermally carbonized Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) fruit hulls via thermogravimetric analysis.
abstract: The pyrolysis of karanj fruit hulls (KFH) and karanj fruit hull hydrothermal carbonization (KFH-HTC) hydrochar was thermogravimetrically investigated under a nitrogen environment at 5 °C/min, 10 °C/min, and 20 °C/min. The pyrolysis decomposition of KFH biomass was faster than that of KFH-HTC hydrochar because of the high volatility and fixed carbon of KFH biomass. Weight loss percentage was also affected by the heating rates. The kinetic data were evaluated with the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods. The activation energy values obtained with these two methods were 61.06 and 68.53 kJ/mol for KFH biomass and 130.49 and 135.87 kJ/mol for KFH-HTC hydrochar, respectively. The analysis of kinetic process mechanisms was verified with the Coats-Redfern method. KFH-HTC hydrochar may play a potential role in transforming biomass to energy-rich feedstock for thermochemical applications because of its high heating value, high fixed carbon, and low ash and sulfur contents.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia; Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Azharul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asif
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: chbassim@usm.my.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hameed
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002606:Charcoal; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007700:Kinetics; D052596:Pongamia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D013818:Thermogravimetry / Q000379:methods*; D014835:Volatilization / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C540010:biochar; D014867:Water; D002606:Charcoal; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Hydrochar; Karanj fruit hulls; Pyrolysis; Thermogravimetric analysis