Pyrolysis and Combustion Kinetic Study and Complementary Study of Ash Fusibility Behavior of Sugarcane Bagasse, Sugarcane Straw, and Their Pellets—Case Study of Agro-Industrial Residues

Abstract

Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of sugarcane bagasse and straw was analyzed using thermogravimetric measurements and applying the DAEM. The kinetic parameters of pyrolysis and combustion reactions were determined, obtaining pyrolysis activation energies of approximately 175 kJ/mol for bagasse and 200 kJ/mol for straw. The combustion activation energies ranged from 162.3 to 282.7 kJ/mol for bagasse and from 130.7 to 292.0 kJ/mol for the straw. The ash melting temperature of both sugarcane residues was also measured. The fluid temperature values found were 1396 and 1352 °C for bagasse and straw, respectively. The analyses were performed for raw material and milled pellets of sugarcane bagasse and straw, obtaining slightly lower values of the kinetic parameters for the milled pellets and negligible differences for the ash melting temperatures.