Thermal characterization of mustard straw and stalk in nitrogen at different heating rates

The pyrolysis of mustard straw and stalk was investigated at different heating rates from the ambient temperature to a temperature of 700 degrees C in a dynamic nitrogen flow of 40 cc/min. The thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) profiles were examined for the entire degradation zone to determine the order of reaction, pre-exponential factor and activation energy. The orders of reaction were in the range of 0.61-1.02, activation energy in the range of 10.83-21.63 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor was in the range of 15.67-27.2 min(-1). This study of kinetics of pyrolysis of this abundant biomass is helpful in developing the mechanism of a thermochemical conversion process. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.