Influence of torrefaction on the pyrolysis of energy cane: A study on thermal properties and decomposition kinetics.

This work aims to study the influence of torrefaction on the energetic properties and thermal decomposition kinetics of energy cane Saccharum spontaneum. An experimental planning (473–533 K, 15–45 min) was realized, and the best conditions were 503 K and 45 min with mass yield above 70%, which led to the decrease in volatile matter and oxygen contents (15%) and the increase of 14.5% in the heating value. The thermogravimetric analysis (heating rates of 5, 10 and 15 K min−1) under inert atmosphere was used for the application of the independent parallel reactions scheme in the multistep model. The activation energies found were 111, 119, 197 and 51 kJ mol−1 for both raw and torrefied biomasses related to extractive, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, respectively. Then, this approach provided reliable kinetic models capable of describing the thermal decomposition for both raw and torrefied samples (deviation < 3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]