Fast characterization of biomass fuels by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

•A methodology for the full characterization of lignocellulosic biomass is proposed.•Suitable TGA analysis allows an accurate determination of the proximate analysis.•The DTG curve is used for the determination of the content of the natural polymers.•Empirical correlations are obtained for predictin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fuel (Guildford) 2015-01, Vol.140, p.744-751
Main Authors: Saldarriaga, Juan F., Aguado, Roberto, Pablos, Aitor, Amutio, Maider, Olazar, Martin, Bilbao, Javier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomass
Elemental analysis
HHV
Proximate analysis
Thermogravimetry
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Summary:•A methodology for the full characterization of lignocellulosic biomass is proposed.•Suitable TGA analysis allows an accurate determination of the proximate analysis.•The DTG curve is used for the determination of the content of the natural polymers.•Empirical correlations are obtained for predicting HHV and C, H and O contents. A methodology is proposed based on thermogravimetric analysis, deconvolution of the DTG signal and empirical correlations for characterizing biomass fuels for boilers and combustors. This methodology allows determining accurately and in a short time the main parameters required for industrial operation, as are the higher heating value (HHV), the contents of moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ashes, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and the kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of the biomass. At the present time, these parameters are obtained by using specific equipment that are much more sophisticated and expensive than the methodology proposed. Twelve types of vegetable lignocellulosic biomasses have been used in the study, i.e., wastes from wood industry, food industry and agriculture. The comparison of the results obtained, based on the methodology developed in this paper, with those published in the literature evidence the validity of the methodology for a wide range of materials.
ISSN:0016-2361
1873-7153
DOI:10.1016/j.fuel.2014.10.024