Slow pyrolysis of nutshells: Characterization of derived chars and of process kinetics

Char samples were obtained from slow pyrolysis of hazelnut and peanut shells at different temperatures (623 K, 873 K, and 1123 K). Composition, heating values, and surface properties of the charcoals were analyzed to explore their potentiality as biofuels and/or for further conversion into activated carbons. The chars generated from both wastes at 873 K exhibited good properties for these purposes, although the hazelnut shell-derived char showed a relatively greater potential. Furthermore, kinetics of the shell's pyrolysis over the temperature range 300 to 1200 K was characterized from nonisothermal thermogravimetric measurements by applying a model that assumes a steadily increasing variation in the activation energy with the process course. It allowed for a satisfactory description of kinetic data for the pyrolysis of hazelnut and peanut shells over the whole range of temperatures examined. Differences in the estimated kinetic parameters characterizing the wastes were found.