title: Thermogravimetric characterization and gasification of pecan nut shells.
abstract: This study focuses on the evaluation of pecan nut shells as an alternative source of energy through pyrolysis and gasification. The physicochemical characteristics of the selected biomass that can influence the process efficiency, consumption rates, and the product yield, as well as create operational problems, were determined. In addition, the thermal decomposition kinetics necessary for prediction of consumption rates and yields were determined. Finally, the performance of a downdraft gasifier fed with pecan nut shells was analyzed in terms of process efficiency and exit gas characteristics. It was found that the pyrolytic decomposition of the nut shells can be modeled adequately using a single equation considering two independent parallel reactions. The performance of the gasification process can be influenced by the particle size and air flow rate, requiring a proper combination of these parameters for reliable operation and production of a valuable syngas.
authors.affiliation: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849 Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aldana
authors.affiliation: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849 Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.affiliation: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849 Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.affiliation: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849 Monterrey, Mexico. Electronic address: mendoza.alberto@itesm.mx.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D031325:Carya / Q000737:chemistry*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009754:Nuts / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D013818:Thermogravimetry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005740:Gases; D007220:Industrial Waste
keywords: Biomass gasification; Downdraft gasifier; Independent parallel reaction; Waste valorization; Waste-to-energy