Co-pyrolysis and co-combustion of orange peel and biomass blends: Kinetics, thermodynamic, and ANN application

Co-pyrolysis and co-combustion of orange peel, oil palm shell, and empty fruit bunch biomass with and without blends were investigated in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at 5, 10, 15, and 20 C/min heating rate. The kinetic parameters were calculated using the model-free and model-fitting methods. Results showed that blending altered the thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) profiles and indicated the existence of multiple reactions. Biomass blends showed a strong synergetic effect, specifically during the char formation. The average activation energy was a function of conversion degree, and the values for the biomass blends were 82-120 kJ/mol compared to their parent biomass (64-111 kJ/mol). The trained artificial neural network model predicted the TG profiles of biomass blends with high R(2 )values (>= 0.9), but the prediction ac-curacy was relatively poor for DTG profiles (<= 0.8). Overall, mixing orange peel waste and oil palm biomass altered the thermo-chemical behavior and kinetics, which could develop a new dimension for future studies.

Automated summary

Co-pyrolysis and co-combustion of orange peel, oil palm shell, and empty fruit bunch biomass were studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer. Blending different biomasses altered the thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry profiles, indicating multiple reactions. Biomass blends showed a strong synergetic effect during char formation.