Effects of biomass types on the co-pyrolysis behaviour of a sub-bituminous high-sulphur coal

Abstract

This communication reports the thermo-kinetic behaviours of three different types of biomass samples and their blends with a sub-bituminous high-sulphur coal. Physicochemical properties were evaluated by various fuel characterization methodologies as well as instrumental methods such as thermal (TG/DTG) analysis, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) technique. Thermo-kinetic parameters of various samples were also evaluated by using Coats and Redfern method. Results indicate that the pyrolytic thermal decomposition behaviours of woody biomass samples are quite different from plant leaf-based biomass sample due to the differences in the chemical compositions. Similarly, thermo-kinetic behaviours of coal-biomass blends are significantly different from the pure coal and pure biomass samples. The lowering of reaction order and activation energy of coal decomposition with increasing biomass contents in the blend can be related with the increasing biomass-based volatile matter content in the blends as well as the catalytic effect of biomass-based alkali and alkaline metal enriched biochar. On the other hand, catalytic effect of coal on the pyrolytic biomass decomposition is only observed at higher biomass replacement level. Analyses of the results obtained from calorific value and apparent activation energy reveal the presence of synergistic effects during the combustion of coal-biomass blend in calorimeter as well as the thermal decomposition of blend under nitrogen atmosphere.

Keywords

Co-pyrolysis / Biomass / High-sulphur coal / Characterization / Thermo-kinetics

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