Kinetics on Biomass Conversion of Terminalia Catappa L. Shell through Isothermal Pyrolysis

Abstract

Lignocellulose decomposition in the pyrolitic process are affected by several factors, mainly temperature and reaction time. Conducting isothermal pyrolisis on Terminalia Catappa L., this study aims to determine the reaction mechanism and to justify the kinetics. Powder sample of Terminalia Catappa L. was prepared by grounding it to certain particle size. The temperature was varied and kept constant at 350^оC, 400^оC, 450^оC, 500^оC, and 550^оC with time interval of 30, 60, and 90 minutes. For kinetics study, data were obtained by measuring the liquid and gas products every 5 minutes. While the solid yield can be calculated using MATLAB simulation program based on the mass balance conception. The results showed that the increase of temperature accelerates the pyrolitic reaction rate increasing the liquid and gas products yield but decreasing the solid product yield. Furthermore the kinetics model of Terminalia Catappa L. pyrolysis was verified to understand the reaction mechanism. It was found that the pyrolysis reaction of Terminalia Catappa L. seed shells refers to the secondary decomposition reaction with the reaction kinetics parameter value of char for 488 min^-1 for the exponential factor. , and  the reaction kinetics parameter value of Tar 0.38 min^-1 for the exponential factor. The primer and secondary decomposition reaction with the reaction kinetics parameter value of tar 71 min^-1 for the exponential factor, 0.43 min^-1 for the exponential factor, respectively.