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This research delves into a detailed exploration of the thermal decomposition behavior of bio-based polymers, specifically thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polylactic acid (PLA), under varying heating rates in a nitrogen atmosphere. This study employs thermogravimetry (TG) to investigate, providing comprehensive insights into the thermal stability of these eco-friendly polymers. In particular, the TPS kinetic model is examined, encompassing the decomposition of three distinct fractions. In contrast, PLA exhibits a simplified kinetic behavior requiring only a fraction described by a zero-order model. The kinetic study involves a systematic investigation into the individual contributions of key components within TPS, including starch, glycerin, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This detailed analysis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the thermal degradation process of TPS and PLA, enabling the optimization of processing conditions and the prediction of material behavior across varying thermal environments. Furthermore, the incorporation of different starch sources and calcium carbonate additives in TPS enhances our understanding of the polymer’s thermal stability, offering insights into potential applications in diverse industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, the multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) technique was used to analyze pyrolytic products generated from primary and secondary pyrolysis of cellulose, lignin and sewage sludge samples. These three materials were selected because pyrolysis of these three materials produces compounds with very different polarity, thus making them ideal for MDGC application. The results of this study show that more than 70% of total chromatogram peaks could be identified with MDGC but only 47%, in the best case, with conventional GC. The increase in the number of identified products is due to increased separations. This increased understanding of pyrolytic product distribution can be used to enhance our understanding of the formation mechanisms of important pyrolytic products like PAHs. This study shows that the MDGC technique can be easily implemented in most pyrolysis laboratories. Also, it was shown that easily available software such as Microsoft® Excel and Visual Basic can be used to effectively handle vast amounts of MDGC data. The data treatment methods discussed in this paper were successful in dividing MDGC data into manageable groups which were then used to obtain insights into the pyrolytic processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Safe animal by-product disposal is a priority target as a result of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy crisis in the European beef industry. One such disposal option is the incineration of by-product material such as meat and bone meal residues (MBM) for the purpose of energy recovery. Although currently applied, the thermal decomposition of MBM wastes has not been scientifically studied until now. A series of experiments has been performed to study the thermal behavior of MBM both in inert (N2) and reactive atmosphere (air), both by thermogravimetry and in a horizontal laboratory furnace. As a general trend, MBM gives low PCDD/F values, compared with incineration of other wastes. Maximum yield of pollutants is observed at a nominal temperature between 700 and 800°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pyrolysis at high temperature (850 °C) of different sewage sludge has been studied in a horizontal laboratory reactor. Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds from pyrolysis of seven different samples have been identified and quantified. Results show that yields of several compounds are similar to those obtained from other wastes in similar conditions. Nitrogenated aromatic compounds have been identified as characteristic compounds in sewage sludge pyrolysis due to their nitrogenous constitution. The origin and formation of these compounds are discussed. The effect of different pre-treatment methods of sewage sludge in the composition of pyrolysis gases has also been discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]