Fuel characterization and thermal degradation kinetics of biomass from phytoremediation plants
Khanh‐Quang Tran, Sebastian Werle, Thuat T. Trinh, Aneta Magdziarz, Szymon Sobek, Marta Pogrzeba
Abstract
Biomass obtained from phytoremediation energy crops Miscanthus x giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita planted on different soils contaminated with heavy metals was thermogravimetrically studied and kinetically analyzed, assuming a three-pseudocomponent model. The results showed that Miscanthus x giganteus was able to uptake more heavy metals than Sida hermaphrodita. Soil influences on the fuel and thermal properties the crops were observed. The ash content of the biomass exhibited a negative effect on its reactivity. The extracted kinetic data are realistic and within reasonable ranges. The activation energies are within 20–103.55 kJ mol−1. The reaction orders are within 1.01–1.99.