Pyrolysis of Sugarcane Bagasse and Co-pyrolysis with an Argentinean Subbituminous Coal

Abstract

Physicochemical properties of the charcoal arising from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at 600°C and 800°C were determined to evaluate potentialities for specific end uses. The charcoals were found fairly adequate as solid bio-fuels. Their quality was comparable to charcoals obtained from some other agro-industrial by-products, reportedly proposed as substitutes of wood-based ones. Surface properties of the charcoal generated at the higher temperature indicated that it is reasonably suited for potential use as low-cost rough adsorbent, soil amender, and/or for further upgrading to activated carbon. Moreover, kinetic measurements for pyrolysis of the sugarcane bagasse individually and mixed with an Argentinean subbituminous coal in equal proportions were conducted by thermogravimetry for the range 25°C–900°C. Data modeling accounting for variations in the activation energy with process evolution provided a proper description of pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis over the entire temperature range.

Keywords:

• charcoal properties
• co-pyrolysis kinetics
• pyrolysis kinetics
• sugarcane bagasse–Argentinean coal blend
• sugarcane bagasse pyrolysis

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCYT–FONCYT) from Argentina for financial support. They also express their gratitude to the EUROPEAID Cooperation Office—Alfa Programme.

Notes

^a Dry basis.

^b By difference.

^c Dry and ash free-basis.

^d Dry and extractive-free basis.

^a Temperature range of application: 25°C–450°C.

^{b b} Temperature range of application: 25°C–900°C.