Pyrolysis characteristics of cellulose derived from moso bamboo and poplar

To compare with pyrolysis characteristics of cellulose from moso bamboo and poplar, samples were pyrolyzed with different heating rates through thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The kinetics was calculated by Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose method. The results showed that pyrolysis process of moso bamboo and poplar fiber included three stages, and the main pyrolysis occurred in the second step. Moso bamboo fiber had a higher start temperature, a lower end temperature and a more mass loss at each heating rate in the main pyrolysis stage. With increase in heating rate, the temperature corresponding to the maximum of mass loss increased and the DTG curve shifted to higher temperature. The reaction rates varied at different heating rates. The activation energy of cellulose from moso bamboo was lower than poplar cellulose, indicating cellulose of moso bamboo was easier to be pyrolyzed. The results from this research will provide guidance to thermal conversion of moso bamboo and poplar.