Pyrolysis kinetics and thermodynamics of pomegranate peel usingTG/DTG analysis

Abstract

The goal of the research was to examine the thermal degradation of pomegranate peel to determine its pyrolytic behavior for bio-energy generation. Initial characterizations (proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, biochemical analysis, and higher heating value) were performed before thermal deterioration to ensure that it was suitable for the pyrolysis process. Later, in a thermo-gravimetric analyzer with inert gas, thermo-gravimetric studies were carried out from ambient temperature to 1000 °C at three distinct heating rates (15, 20, and 25 °C/min). Thermo-gravimetric measurements revealed that the greatest devolatilization occurred between 200 and 540 °C. Four iso-conversional models (FWO, KAS, Tang, and Starink) were used for kinetic and thermodynamic analysis. The results revealed that the average activation energies were found 137.79, 149.63, 168.47, and 163.97 kJ/mol for FWO, KAS, Tang, and Starink model, respectively. The potential energy barrier (~ 4–8 kJ/mol) between activation energy and reaction enthalpy demonstrated favorable circumstances for product formation. Average Gibbs free energy change (∆G) for pomegranate peel by using iso-conversional FWO, KAS, Tang, and Starink model was found to be 81.84, 145.54, 80.53, and 80.83 kJ/mol, respectively. Thus, kinetic and thermodynamic data demonstrated that pomegranate peel had sufficient bioenergy potential. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.) © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022. Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.