Sustainable Valorization of Animal Manure and Recycled Polyester: Co-pyrolysis Synergy

Abstract

In this study sustainable valorization of cattle manure, recycled polyester, and their blend (1:1 wt.%) were examined by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method. Pyrolysis tests were performed at 10, 30, and 50 °C/min heating rate from room temperature to 1000 °C under a nitrogen environment with a flow of 100 cm3/min. Kinetics of decomposition were analyzed by using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) method. Based on activation energies and conversion points, a single region was established for recycled polyester while three regions of pyrolysis were obtained for cattle manure and their blend. Comparison between experimental and theoretical profiles indicated synergistic interactions during co-pyrolysis in the high temperature region. The apparent activation energies calculated by FWO method for cattle manure, recycled polyester. and their blend were 194.62, 254.22 and 227.21 kJ/mol, respectively. Kinetics and thermodynamic parameters, including E, ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS, have shown that cattle manure and recycled polyester blend is a remarkable feedstock for bioenergy.