Insight into the thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of Tamarindus indica shell using thermogravimetric analysis

ABSTRACT

The shells of Tamarindus indica could serve as a primary source of energy generation from biomass. This paper deals with non-isothermal thermogravimetric experiments conducted at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20°C/min with temperatures ranging between 25°C and 700°C to evaluate the kinetic behavior and the thermodynamic properties of Tamarindus indica shell pyrolysis. Three iso-conversational models, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Starink, and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), were used to identify the activation energy (E_a), Enthalpy (ΔH), Entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) of the Tamarindus indica shell biomass. The average activation energy when estimated using KAS, Starink, and FWO models was found to be 209.1, 209.3, and 207.5 kJ/mol with R² values of 0.91, 0.91, and 0.92, respectively. The average ΔH, ΔS, and ΔG values using the KAS method were found to be 204.4 kJ/mol, 82.2 J/mol K, and 155.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The values of kinetic and thermodynamic triplets indicate that the reaction is non-spontaneous. The findings of this present study reveal that there is an opportunity for Tamarindus indica shells to be used as an alternative biomass fuel due to their eco-friendly nature and ideal properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Tamarindus indica
• Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose
• Starink and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa
• TGA
• activation energy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.