Thermogravimetric analysis for characterization of the pellets produced with different forest and agricultural residues

Análise termogravimétrica para caracterização dos pellets produzidos com diferentes resíduos florestais e agrícolas

ABSTRACT:

The pelleting of forest and agricultural materials, mainly because many residues from both industries can be used in this process, has been an alternative in obtaining added value products to energy generation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the energy quality of the pellets produced from forest and agricultural residues as raw materials and to verify the utility of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) in characterizing the behavior of the pellets during the combustion process. Four residues were used: (1) Pinus spp. woodchips, (2) apple pruning residues, (3) aciculated dry branches of Araucaria angustifolia and (4) A. angustifolia empty-seeds. Chemical composition of the raw materials was determined and the physical and energetic properties of the pellets were analysed. Plus, the proximate analysis of the pellets was carried out. The samples were submitted to TGA with a heating rate of 20ºC min^-1 from room temperature to 1000ºC, in a N₂ atmosphere. The variation of chemical composition of each residue was determinant in the characterization of each stage of the thermal degradation. Stages and events of the degradation were closely linked to the chemical and energetic nature of the samples. Use of TGA to characterize the thermal degradation of the pellets produced with different forest and agricultural residues was demonstrated as an efficient technique to quantify and qualify the events that occurred in each stage of the combustion of these biofuels.

Key words:
TGA; DTG; thermal degradation; residues

RESUMO:

A peletização de resíduos florestais e agrícolas tem sido uma alternativa na obtenção de produtos com maior valor agregado para a geração de energia, pois muitos resíduos podem ser utilizados neste processo. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade energética dos pellets produzidos com resíduos florestais e agrícolas como matéria-prima e verificar a viabilidade de uso da análise termogravimétrica (TGA) e análise termogravimétrica diferencial (DTG) para caracterizar o comportamento dos pellets durante o processo de combustão. Foram utilizados quatro resíduos: (1) partículas de Pinus spp., (2) resíduos de poda de maçã, (3) ramos secos aciculados de Araucaria angustifolia e (4) falhas de pinhão de A. angustifolia. Foram determinadas a composição química das matérias-primas e analisadas suas propriedades físicas e energéticas, bem como a análise imediata dos pellets. As amostras foram submetidas ao TGA com uma taxa de aquecimento de 20ºC min-1 da temperatura ambiente a 1000ºC, em atmosfera de N2. As curvas termogravimétricas permitiram a avaliação da perda de massa em função da temperatura. O DTG permitiu a avaliação da taxa de perda de massa. A variação na composição química de cada resíduo foi determinante para caracterizar cada estágio da degradação térmica. Os estágios e os eventos de degradação estavam intimamente ligados à natureza química e energética das amostras. O uso de TGA, para caracterizar a degradação térmica dos pellets produzidos com diferentes resíduos florestais e agrícolas, se mostrou eficiente para quantificar e qualificar os eventos que ocorreram em cada estágio de combustão desses biocombustíveis.

Palavras-chave:
TGA; DTG; degradação térmica; resíduos

INTRODUCTION:

The southern region of Brazil concentrates the largest areas of Pinus plantations of the country, comprising about 88% of the total. Only the states of Santa Catarina and Parana have 34% and 42% of the 1.6 million hectares cultivated, with the production focused on multiple uses (IBÁ, 2016). Among the industries attended by the forest sector, cellulose, kraft paper, panels and sawmills prevailed (ACR, 2015). These fields constitute an important source of raw materials to these products and have had an increasing demand over the years (KRONKA et al., 2005).

Brazilian wood-based industries produce about 41 million tons of residues annually (ABRAF, 2013). Wood residues can be defined as the waste or leftovers that remain after mechanical, physical or chemical processes and are not incorporated to the final product (QUIRINO, 2004). They are generically classified as barks, woodchips, sawdust and ashes produced in the process.

The use of wood residues has been studied to be applied in the production of agglomerated panels. However, the residue requires to be cleaned and needs proper sawmills. Therefore, energy generation using different processes of conversion may be another application for these leftovers (FAGUNDES, 2003). Currently, the timber industry incinerates these wastes in order to generate thermal or electric energy that can be applied to the production process. Thus, this renewable source of energy is now a reality in the productive sector and is also able to replace the use of fossil fuels. In this context, the biomass is established as a clean and renewable source of energy (VASCONCELLOS, 2002).

In addition to planted Pinus, the vegetation of the region is composed naturally by the Araucaria moist forest and it is part of the Atlantic Forest biome. Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze is the most common species of the forest. It belongs to the Araucariaceae family and it is the only species that occurs naturally in Brazil (MANTOVANI et al., 2004).

The most important products and uses of Araucaria emerged from its exploitation in the past. Sawing wood, energetic uses, panels, paper, pulp and cellulose are some examples. The dry branches and rejects can be used as firewood or boiler fuel and the pine nuts can be served as food for men and animals (GUERRA et al., 2002). Due to logging restrictions, the wood exploitation is prohibited and the uses are associated to the harvesting of the pine nuts for family consumption and trade (SILVA; REIS, 2009), and the production of firewood from the branches (GUERRA et al., 2002). Considering the social aspects of the region, the production of pine nuts is a significant economic activity, which involves the participation of entire families. It can be considered the most important activity for family farming because it is the main source of annual income of those families (NETO et al., 2010).

Nevertheless, the pine nut is only one of the components of the female strobili of the Araucaria. On average, 41.8% of the fresh weight of the strobilus consists of the seeds, 50.7% of the empty-seeds and 7.5% of its central axis (MANTOVANI et al., 2004).

The aciculated dry branches are thin and needle-shaped secondary tree branches of the Araucaria angustifolia. The evaluation of the annual deposition of litter in 17-year-old stands of A. angustifolia showed that it can reach 6.96 Mg.ha^-1 and it is composed of branches (26,3%) and needles (73.7%) (SCHUMACHER et al., 2004). Biomass production after clear cutting of a 27-year-old stand of Araucaria angustifolia was quantified as 51.5% of wood, 14.7% of bark, 13% of roots, 11.8% of live branches, 6.6% of aciculated branches and 0.5% of dead branches (SCHUMACHER et al., 2011). The aciculated dry branches naturally drop off the plants and they may become a phytosanitary issue for the animals if they are not collected. These branches have been reported in the lungs of cattle and horses that graze around A. angustifolia forests. The branches may cause bronchopneumonia, respiratory difficult, coughing, progressive slimmer, limited swallowing, nasal ulcer and hyperthermia. The foreign body aspiration is not reported frequently; although, the aspiration of the aciculated dry branches was one of the main causes of death due to respiratory difficulties of the cattle in the Araucaria moist forest region in Santa Catarina (EVANGELISTA et al., 2014).

In this context, A. angustifolia has the potential to supply forest biomass for energy production through the use of residues of the pine nut production chain (empty-seeds) and the use of the aciculated dry branches from self-pruning.

Beyond the forest based industry, the fruticulture has a significant economic importance to the Santa Catarina state. Brazil has 33,583 hectares of apple orchard. The South region has 98.74% of these plantations and 16,364 hectares of these orchards are located in the state. In 2017, southern Brazil was responsible for 94.10% of the national apple production. Santa Catarina is the largest national producer, contributing with 52.46% of the annual production (IBGE, 2017).

At the end of the fruit harvesting, the orchards of apple (Malus domestica) require annual and cyclical procedures. These procedures produced biomass materials, such as branches, trunks and rootstocks (BOSCHIERO et al., 2016), generating a significant quantity of residues that have to be discarded (SPINELLI & PICCHI, 2010). Most of these residues are burned at the own orchards (SAN JOSÉ et al, 2014), being a waste of biomass resources (MAGAGNOTTI et al., 2013).

Thus, finding uses for these leftovers should allow the conversion of a disposal problem into an additional production, with potential to revenues or cost reduction for managing the solid residues of the production (SPINELLI & PICCHI, 2010).

The energetic use of the described forest and agricultural residues may be a desirable and economically viable environmental alternative for the destination of such materials. Among the energetic conversion processes, the pelleting is highlighted. This technique is based on biomass densification through heat and pressure application, which raises the specific mass and decreases the product moisture, increasing the energy density of the fuel, compared to its raw materials (NONES et al., 2017). Considering the quantity, the location, the availability and the raw materials’ energy quality, the cited products may have potential for the production of the pellets for energy generation.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is an alternative that can be applied to determine the energy quality of the materials. The TGA can quantitatively solve complex mixtures due to the thermal decomposition of each component (BARNETOet al., 2009). In lignocellulosic materials, the combination of TGA and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) allows to obtain the lignin content (GHETTI et al, 1996) and its influence during the combustion process because the lignin plays a critical role in the use of biomass to energetic purposes (FENGEL; WEGENER, 1989). It can also be used as a method for analyzing natural fuels (DIMITRAKOPOULOS, 2001).

Thus, this study aimed to evaluate of the energetic quality of the pellets made from forest and agricultural residues as raw materials, in order to verify the viability of using TGA and DTG to characterize the behavior of these pellets through the combustion process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Residues used in this study were Pinus spp. woodchips, branches from the pruning of apple trees, Araucaria angustifolia aciculated branches and non-fertilized nuts (empty-seeds). They were provided by a door factory in Lages, Santa Catarina (27° 48′ 57″S, 50° 19′ 33″W), a company located in Urubici, Santa Catarina (28° 0′ 54″S, 49° 35′ 31″W), and farmers in the region of Lages, respectively. All residues were collected in 2016.

A total of 200kg of each material was collected to do the pelleting and the analyses. A fraction of the biomass in natura was ground in a Willey mill for chemical analyses. The particle size was between 40 and 60 mesh. The total extractives and lignin content in natura were determined by TAPPI T264 and TAPPI T222 standards and the holocellulose was determined by difference.

Pellets were produced in a pilot laboratory machine with flat matrix and pelleting capacity of 400kg h^-1. The pellets were cooled in a controlled chamber with 65% of relative humidity and at 22ºC for 24 hours. After that, the moisture content was determined according to EN 14774 standards, the gross calorific value and net calorific value were measured using the standard DIN 51900 and the proximate analysis was determined in a thermogravimetric scale, based on the ASTM 1762 standards.

The thermogravimetric analysis was undertaken with the purpose of determining the behavior of the pellets during combustion in a complete combustion system that is used for the production of thermal energy. The TGA analysis was carried out using the TGA 2000 (Automatic Multiple Sample Thermogravimetric Analyzer by NAVAS Instruments). Each sample unit presented similar weight (1g) and four replicates for each kind of pellet (Pinus spp. woodchips, Araucaria angustifolia aciculated dry branches, non-fertilized nuts (empty-seeds)). Mass and the volume of each sample were determined. The moisture content was analyzed before the thermogravimetric analysis, according to EN 14774 standards.

For each of the sample units, the test was done in an inert atmosphere of N₂ with a flow rate of 93,75mL min^-1. The heating rate was 20ºC min^-1, starting from room temperature to 1000ºC. When the equipment reached 1000ºC, the test was carried out until the mass loss stabilized.

TG curves were obtained in order to measure the mass loss as a function of temperature and DTG curves allowed to evaluate the mass loss rate. The data of chemical and physical analyses were submitted to the Scott-Knott test at 95% of significance. The mean values and the standard deviation of the variables were also presented.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

3.1 Physical and energetic characterization of the pellets and the in natura biomass

Regarding to the chemical composition of the residues, the A. angustifolia aciculated dry branches had the highest content of the total extractives (Table 1). All residues were statistically different and the lowest content was observed for the empty-seeds. Values reorted for Pinus were above the extractive contents reported in the literature, from 5% to 8% (GARCIA et al., 2016) and 6% (MAZIERO et al., 2014).

Table 1
Chemical characterization of different forest and agricultural residues in natura.

Residues	TEC (%)	L (%)	H (%)
Pinus woodchips	10.09 c	26.01 c	73.99 a
Apple pruning	13.72 b	29.26 b	70.74 b
A. angustifolia aciculated dry branches	19.95 a	42.16 a	57.84 c
A. angustifolia empty-seeds	7.55 d	41.91 a	58.09 c
Mean	12,83	34.90	65.10
SD(%)	5,21	3.31	1.78

• Note: TEC = total extractives content, L = acid insoluble lignin content, H = holocellulose content, SD = standard deviation. Means followed by the same letters in the same column did not differ significantly (P<0.005) by the Scott-Knott test.

The lignin content of the aciculated dry branches and the empty-seeds were statistically similar, they presented the highest values. This may be explained by the origin of these materials. The empty-seeds are part of the A. angustifolia female strobili and the aciculated dry branches are the secondary parts of the A. angustifolia branches, composed of wood, bark tree and needles. The result was similar to the ones reported in the literature concerning the Pinus trees (GARCIA et al., 2016; MAZIERO et al., 2014).

The highest amount of holocellulose was observed for the Pinus residues. The empty-seeds and the aciculated dry branches showed the lowest values. They were statistically equal and inversely proportional to the lignin content.

The chemical characterization of the solid residues of Pinus found 12.6% of the extractives in water, 23.6% of lignin and 60.6% of holocellulose (BIANCHI et al., 2010). Both lignin and holocellulose contents reported in this study were higher than the ones found by BIANCHI et al. (2010).

According to BIANCHI et al. (2010) and BERGHEL et al. (2013), the lignin and the extractive contents of the biomass are essential to the links and the packing of particles during the pelleting process. However, BRADFIELD & LEVI (1984) point out that they are only essential below a threshold value of 34% in wood sample.

JACINTO et al. (2017), using different mixing proportions of empty-seeds of A. angustifolia and Pinus to produce pellets, and the authors in this study observed that the higher the amount of lignin was the higher was the amount of moisture content needed in order to produce better quality pellets.

Considering the pelleting production, the authors observed that the Pinus residue was the easiest one to pellet, which can be explained by the fact that this residue showed a total amount of lignin and extractives of around 36%. The other analyzed residues were harder to pellet because of the higher amount of lignin and extractives in the samples; therefore, the moisture content needed for linking and packing the particles during the pelleting process was higher.

The proximate analysis determines the burning behavior of the fuel (Table 2). The fixed carbon represents the quantity of mass that burns in the solid form, while the volatile content indicates the fuel mass that will burn in the gaseous form. Besides that, the ashes content determines the amount of residues left after the completed combustion process.

Table 2
Physical and energetic properties of the pellets.

Pellet	MC*	FC (%)	VM (%)	A (%)	GCV (kcal kg-1)	NCV (kcal kg-1)
Pinus woodchips	9.94 b	22.28 b	76.85 a	0.87 b	4704 b	3884 a
Apple pruning	10.47 b	19.10 c	78.62 a	2.27 a	4526 b	3699 a
A. angustifolia aciculated dry branches	11.84 a	21.85 b	74.91 b	3.24 a	5065 a	4108 a
A. angustifolia empty-seeds	8.09 c	26.31 a	71.05 c	2.64 a	4668 b	3944 a
Mean	10.09	22.38	75.36	2.07	4740	3909
SD(%)	7.08	4.92	1.62	26.05	2.35	269

• Note: MC = moisture content; FC = fixed carbon, VM = volatile matter, A = ash, GCV = gross calorific value, NCV = net calorific value. ^*The moisture content was measured after cooling and conditioning the pellets for 24 hours after the pelleting process. Values followed by the same letters in the same column did not differ significantly (P<0.005) by the Scott-Knott test.

Regarding the fixed carbon content of the pellets, the empty-seed residue showed the highest value and the apple pruning one presented the lowest. Results for the aciculated dry branches and the Pinus were statistically equal. The analysis reported higher results when compared to the fixed carbon content found for similar pellets of Pinus in the literature (RAMOS E PAULA et al., 2011).

The Pinus and the apple pruning pellets presented the highest volatile matter values and did not differ statistically from each other, while the aciculated dry branches and the empty seed pellets were statistically different, presenting the lowest values. The matter loss of the Pinus and the apple pruning pellets during the thermogravimetric analysis were influenced by the highest amount of volatile matter. Both of the residues had the highest accumulated matter losses on the Stage II (Tables 4 and 5). It is during the Stage II that the burning of the volatile compounds of the fuels happens.

Table 3
Pellets properties before TGA analysis.

Pellet	Moisture content (%)*			Mass (g)		Volume (cm3)		Density (g.cm-3)
Pinus woodchips	8.25	b	0.798	a	0.000725	a	1.103	b
Apple pruning	8.10	b	0.819	a	0.000787	a	1.040	b
A. angustifolia aciculated dry branches	10.95	a	0.820	a	0.000767	a	1.071	b
A. angustifolia empty-seeds	7.10	c	0.837	a	0.000702	a	1.193	a
Mean	8.10			0.819		0.000745		1.102
SD(%)	5.81			5.88		6.62		3.47

• Values followed by the same letters in the same column did not differ significantly (P<0.005) by the Scott-Knott test. ^*Moisture content was measured before the TGA analysis.

Table 4
Temperature ranges and accumulated mass loss for each pellet.

Pellets	Temperature range (ºC)	Accumulated mass loss (%)
	25 - 200	0.69
	200 - 380	12.00
Pinus woodchips	400 - 450	68.00
	450 - 500	72.00
	500 - 1000	91.50
	Reminiscent mass at 1000ºC	0.40
	25 - 100	0.88
	100 - 350	12.00
Apple pruning	350 - 550	75.00
	550 - 1000	93.40
	Reminiscent mass at 1000ºC	2.26
	25 - 200	1.30
	200 - 300	49.18
A. angustifolia aciculated dry branches	300 - 500	64.00
	600 - 1000	89.00
	Reminiscent mass at 1000ºC	3.14
	25 - 100	1.15
	100 - 200	3.74
A. angustifolia empty-seeds	200 - 380	38.17
	380 - 450	62.75
	450 - 1000	87.00
	Reminiscent mass at 1000ºC	2.27

Table 5
Thermogravimetric stages of the pellets.

Sample	Stage I	Stage II	Stage III
Pinus waste wood	25ºC to 300ºC	300ºC to 500ºC	500ºC to 1000ºC
Apple prunning	25ºC to 350ºC	350ºC to 550ºC	550ºC to 1000ºC
Dry Branches of Araucaria angustifloia	25ºC to 350ºC	350ºC to 500ºC	500ºC to 1000ºC
Empty-seeds of Araucaria angustifolia female strobiles	25ºC to 380ºC	380ºC to 500ºC	500ºC to 1000ºC

The highest ash content was found in the aciculated dry branches, but the numbers did not differ statistically from the apple pruning and the empty-seed pellets. The dry branches also had highlights in the gross calorific value, while the other samples did not differ statistically.

The gross calorific values were close tothe ones found inliterature for similar studies with Pinus pellets (DIMITRAKOPOULOS, 2001; JACINTO et al., 2017). Relating to the net calorific value, all results were statistically similar. It can be explained by the fact that the NCV is the useful energy available for the energy generation system and the pellet with the biggest GCV was the same that showed the highest moisture content, while the samples with the lowest moisture contents had the lowest GCV, resulting in similar net calorific values.

The lignin and extractives are the compounds that release more energy from wood samples (TILLMAN et al., 1981). Therefore, the values reported for the aciculated dry branches are consistent with the higher lignin and the extractive contents reported for this biomass (Table 1 and Table 2).

Mean values of mass and volume of the pellets analyzed on TGA did not present variations between them (Table 3). Both mass and volume of the samples were homogeneous. Thus, it is expected that the variation of the behavior of the pellets during the thermogravimetric analysis is due to the composition of the samples.

The moisture content of the Pinus and the apple pruning samples did not differ statistically. The empty-seed samples had the lowest moisture content while the aciculated dry branches presented the highest values. The density of the empty-seed pellets was higher than the density of the other samples and they also did not differ statistically.

3.2 Thermogravimetric analysis

The TGA and DTG curves of the Pinus pellets (Figure 1A) showed that there was no significant mass loss until the temperature reached approximately 200ºC. After this temperature, a slight mass loss occurred while the temperature was raising up to 380ºC. As evidenced by the DTG curve, between 380ºC and 450ºC a fast mass loss was observed. The mass loss is attenuated between 450ºC and 500ºC. The sample mass decreased in a constant rate after 500ºC and, from 500ºC to 1000ºC, its complete degradation happened.

Figure 1
Thermogravimetric curves (TG) and Derivative thermogravimetric curves (DTG) of analyzed pellets samples. (a) Pinus, (b) apple pruning, (c) A. angustifolia dry branches and (d) A. angustifolia empty-seeds.

For the apple pruning pellets (Figure 1B), a slight mass loss is observed at temperatures up to 200ºC, followed by an increasing rate until 350ºC. After 350ºC, a fast mass loss was observed until approximately 550ºC. Between 550ºC and 1000ºC the mass loss rate decreased and the complete degradation occurred at 1000ºC.

The TG and the DTG curve analysis of the A. angustifolia aciculated dry branch pellets (Figure 1C) showed a slight mass loss rate untill the temperature reached approximately 200ºC, followed by a small increase at temperatures lower than 300ºC. Between 300ºC and 500ºC a fast and substantial mass loss came about and was only attenuated at the temperatures from 500ºC to 1000ºC.

Results for the empty-seed pellets (Figure 1D) showed that the mass loss initiated at room temperature followed by a slight increase between 100ºC and 200ºC. Within the range of 200ºC and 380ºC a higher increase was observed. Then, it was between 380ºC and 450ºC that the highest mass loss rate was verified. After 450ºC, the pellets decreased its mass loss rate until the complete degradation at 1000ºC.

The differences in the chemical composition of the biomass (Table 1) determined the variance incombustion behavior of the pellets, since the lignin, the extractives and the holocellulose have different ranges of combustion and can have their degradation on different periods during the combustion process. Therefore, the differences in chemical composition of the biomass influenced the burning behavior of the pellets under combustion.

The temperature ranges and the accumulated mass loss are presented in table 4.

TGA curves of the pellets may be divided in three main stages. Stage I (drying), Stage II (active pyrolysis) and Stage III (passive pyrolysis) (NYAKUMAet al., 2016). Applying the same definitions, the curve results are presented in table 5.

The Stage I involve the volatilization of low weight compounds and adsorbed water (RAMOS E PAULA et al., 2011). For all the analyzed pellets, the highest loss rates occurred at Stage II, which is the stage when the degradation of hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin happen. At the Stage III, the mass loss is attributed to the remaining lignin from Stage II. The lignin degradation occurs in a slower gradual rate than the other compounds. This behavior was better observed in the dry branch and empty-seed pellets. They had higher lignin content, lost a lower proportion of mass at the Stages I and II and had a slow degradation of remaining mass at Stage III.

Although, the temperature ranges of the degradation of wood compounds have specific temperatures, it is highlighted that, in inert atmospheres, a separation of individual events is not observed, but an overlap of events is more common (BIANCHI et al., 2010), as evidenced by the TGA curves.

TGA can be determinant to relate the chemical analysis to the mass loss. The thermo gravimetric technique has been used to determine the composition of lignocellulosic materials with satisfying results (CARRIER et al., 2011).

Thermogravimetric studies of lignocellulosic biomass indicated characteristic temperature ranges of the degradation of lignin, with a slow rate between 250ºC and 750ºC, hemicelluloses, starting at 250ºC until 500ºC, and cellulose, with a fast degradation starting at 375ºC (LOPEZ-GONZALEZ et al., 2013).

Even though the pellets analyzed by the TGA have similar curves, through the DTG analysis different peaks of temperature were observed and the maximum mass loss rate was verified. The maximum loss rate for the empty-seed pellets was at 380ºC. The Pinus pellets had the maximum rate at 480ºC and for the apple pruning and the dry branch samples the maximum rate was observed at 430ºC.However, the apple pruning pellets showed a higher rate than the dry branches.

The change of these ranges may be explained by the chemical composition of the biomass (Table 1). Samples of dry branches showed the highest lignin content and the lowest cellulose content. The lignin quantity contributes to reduce the rate of the degradation of the sample, decreasing the DTG peak of the sample as well. The higher contents of lignin in the empty-seed and the aciculated dry branch pellets also brings to a better thermal stability of the samples, that had about 10% and 12% of its initial mass when the TGA reached 1000ºC, before the complete stabilization of mass loss at the same temperature.

Comparing to the Pinus pellets, the other samples showed a higher thermal stability until 500ºC. However, above 500ºC the Pinus lost more mass in relation to the other pellets. It occurs because the initial combustion of other pellets may form other compounds which are more stable in the thermal degradation process. This event contributes to initiate the combustion at lower temperatures but with slower rates, producing compounds that decrease the combustion process at high temperatures (BIANCHI et al., 2010).

All samples presented small DTG peaks at 100ºC, mainly related to water loss, with the highest rate to the empty-seed pellets and the lowest rate to the Pinus samples. In the range up to 350ºC, a higher mass loss rate related to the aciculated dry branch sample was observed, followed by the empty-seed, apple pruning and Pinus pellets. The lignin contents influenced the beginning of the pyrolysis.

Relating the TGA results (Figure 1 and Table 4) and the ash contents (Table 2), it was observed that the results of reminiscent mass were consistent to the results obtained through the proximate analysis.

A direct relationship between the fixed carbon and the change in the TG and DTG curves was observed. The empty-seeds presented the highest fixed carbon content and the highest mass loss rate at lower temperatures than the other samples. The apple pruning presented the lowest fixed carbon value, and the highest mass loss rate was observed at higher temperatures. At 450ºC the aciculate dry branch pellets also presented the highest peak of DTG, but with the lowest depth, when compared to the other samples. This can be explained because the aciculated dry branch samples presented the highest quantities of the extractives and lignin. A relation between the mass loss rate peaks of the DTG and the contents of the extractives can be observed, with the empty-seed pellet having the highest DTG peak and the lowest extractive content.

CONCLUSION:

In terms of energy quality, the A. angustifolia aciculated dry branch pellets showed the highest energetic potential and a slower and better distributed combustion throughout the burning process, when compared to the other pellets. A similar behavior was observed for the A. angustifolia empty-seed pellets. The apple pruning pellets presented the lowest energetic potential.

The usage of thermogravimetric analysis to characterize the thermal degradation of the pellets produced using different forest and agricultural residues is shown as an efficient technique to quantify and qualify the events occurred in each stage of the combustion of these biofuels. The thermal degradation rate and heating values of the pellets were influenced by the contents of volatile matter, fixed carbon and lignin.

Thermal decomposition of the pellets occurred at three main stages. Stage I (drying), Stage II (active pyrolysis) and Stage III (passive pyrolysis), with the temperature varying according to each material analysed. For all pellets, the highest mass loss rate occurred at Stage II. The mass loss at Stage III was attributed to the reminiscent lignin from Stage II, which occurred in a lower and gradual rate.

The variation of the chemical composition of the residues was essential to characterize each stage of the thermal degradation. Stages and events of pyrolysis were closely linked to the chemical and energetic nature of the raw materials.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors acknowledge Dr. Enéas Ricardo Konzen for the valuable suggestions and Gisele Paim Ribeiro Domingues Lopes for the technical support with the analyses.

Funding: This reseach was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC) and the Fundo de Apoio à Manutenção e ao Desenvolvimento da Educação Superior (FUMDES) through scholarships.

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• 0
  CR-2018-0271.R1

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2018

History

• Received
  02 Apr 2018
• Accepted
  17 Sept 2018
• Reviewed
  11 Oct 2018