Modeling the Kinetics of Lignocellulosic Biomass Pyrolysis

Abstract

The study of the kinetics involved in lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis has received great attention in the last decades and different mathematical models have been derived. In this chapter, a literature review was performed in order to summarize the existing models that use thermogravimetric data to estimate the kinetic parameters, which are important to improve and optimize the process. Additionally, a case study was presented exemplifying the application of kinetic modeling for the residue of one Brazilian species (Brazil nut woody shell). The isoconversional models of Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, modified Coats-Redfern, and Friedman were applied, as well as three and four independent parallel reactions models. The four reactions model presented the best fit between experimental and theoretical data, providing a better representation of the biomass pyrolysis reaction.