KINETIC STUDY OF DECOMPOSITION OF BIOMASS
FROM THE RESULTS OF THERMOCONVERSION
1
R. C. Santiago1, R. M. Braga1, D. M. A. Melo1, M. A. F. Melo1, A. F. M. Carvalho1
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Engenharia de Materiais - UFRN, Brazil
Greater attention is given, today, the use of renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Biomass has been well studied and its potential for energy production with acceptable levels
of environmental impact must be taken into consideration. This study used two types of
biomass: Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and sugar bagasse-cane. For the evaluation
of the kinetic parameters of decomposition of biomass was used kinetic model proposed by
Fllyn Wall, which in this study, the materials were submitted to thermogravimetric analysis
technique to three heating rates (5, 10 and 20 C.min-1 ) in a dynamic atmosphere of air. From
the results thermoconversion involved in, it was possible the choice of material shows great
potential as raw material for energy production, demonstrating that the type of biomass used
influences the behavior and kinetics parameters of thermoconversion.
Keywords: Biomass, kinetc parameters, thermogravimetric analysis, pyrolysis
[email protected] – Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 1559, Lagoa Nova – UFRN –
Departamento de Química. Natal/RN, Brazil