Work

Study on carbonization of lignin by TG-FTIR and high-temperature carbonization reactor

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Biomass charcoal is dominantly made from lignin. It is necessary to study lignin carbonization process to improve the quality of biomass charcoal. A Thermo-Gravimetric Analyzer coupled with a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (TG-FTIR) was applied to investigate the kinetics of lignin carbonization. Three mass loss stages (drying, pyrolysis and carbonization) were observed below 900 °C and another stage (structural rearrangement stage) with a slight mass loss was noticed between 900 and 1200 °C. Charcoal obtained at different temperatures was analyzed by FTIR to track the variation of functional groups. The pyrolysis of lignin started at 200 °C and charcoal was initially formed till 500 °C together with the intensive evolution of volatiles including various phenyl compounds. Amorphous carbon was formed between 500 and 900 °C, while most benzene rings structures were transformed into aromatic structures with emission of CO. When the temperature increased from 900 °C to 1400 °C, most CC bonds were cleaved and a new charcoal structure, between amorphous carbon and graphite structures, was probably formed. The activation energies of the above three stages were estimated to be 54 kJ/mol, 70 kJ/mol and 178 kJ/mol.

Source: Fuel Processing Technology

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2012.06.016

Authors: Jun Cao, Gang Xiao, Xiao Xu, DeKui Shen, Baosheng Jin

Institutions: Southeast University, State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University

Language: English

Topic: Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes

Subfield: Fuel Technology

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,180