TG–FTIR-MS study of pyrolysis products evolving from peat

• Published in: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis 2016-01, Vol.117, p.296-309
• Main Authors: Yang, Jiuling, Chen, Haixiang, Zhao, Weitao, Zhou, Jianjun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gas evolution; Kinetics; Peat pyrolysis; TG–FTIR-MS
• ISSN: 0165-2370; 1873-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2015.11.002

•A kinetic scheme with five parallel reactions was proposed for peat pyrolysis.•The majority of gas products were released during organic matter decomposition.•Light gas species were detected due to hemillulose and cellulose pyrolysis.•Some aromatic hydrocarbons were identified due to lignin degradation. Thermal characteristics and gas compositions during peat pyrolysis under helium atmosphere were investigated using the TG–FTIR-MS coupling technique. The majority of gas products were released during the decomposition temperature of 150–550°C, resulting in about 60% mass loss of peat. The main gas species detected during 150–400°C were CO2, CO, CH4, C2H6, HCOOH, CH3CH2COOH, C4H8 and CH2CHCHO. From 400°C to 550°C, some aromatic hydrocarbons were identified, including benzaldehyde, phenol, benzoic acid and toluene. The release of CO2, CO, CH4 and some aromatic hydrocarbons over 550°C provided the evidence of char pyrolysis. A five-step pyrolysis scheme including water evaporation, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin degradation, and char pyrolysis was used to simulate peat decomposition process in inert atmosphere. The well agreement between the calculated and experimental curves indicated that major aliphatic gases were derived from hemicellulose and cellulose pyrolysis, while aromatic hydrocarbons were mainly from lignin and char pyrolysis. This work provides a deep insight into the utilization of peat for gaseous biofuels.