Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis of energy crop Jerusalem artichoke using the distributed activation energy model

Jerusalem artichoke has great potential as future feedstock for bioenergy production because of its high tuber yield (up to 90 t ha(-1)), appropriate biomass characteristics, low input demand, and positive environmental impact. The pyrolytic and kinetic characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke tubers were analyzed at heating rates of 5, 10, 20 and 30 A degrees C min(-1). TG and DTG curves in an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere suggested that there were three distinct stages of mass loss and the major loss occurs between about 190-380 A degrees C. Heating rate brought a lateral shift toward right in the temperature. And, it not only affects the temperature at which the highest mass loss rate reached, but also affect the maximum rate of mass loss. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was used to study the pyrolysis kinetics and provided reasonable fits to the experimental data. The activation energy (E) of tubers ranged from 146.40 to 232.45 kJ mol(-1), and the frequency factor (A) changed greatly corresponding to E values at different mass conversion.