A comparative study on kinetic and thermodynamic studies for pyrolysis of corn-cob with and without aluminium oxides catalyst using thermogravimetric analysis

ABSTRACT

The utilization of corncob residues in pyrolysis offers a promising source for both renewable energy and chemical production. In this study, corncob was decomposed in the presence of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) catalyst using a fixed bed reactor under an inert atmosphere. Pyrolysis of corncob was carried out in the presence of Al₂O₃ NPs at different heating rates i.e. 5, 10, 15 and 20°C/min in an oxygen-free atmosphere using TGA technique. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies were performed using the best fit models including Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW), Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Friedman methods. The average activation energies for Friedman, OFW, KAS were 177.3, 162.9 and 167.8 kJ/mol, respectively for pure corncob and 111.0, 102.5 and 118.06 kJ/mol, respectively for Al₂O₃-corncob sample. Activation energy was found to be the lowest in the OFW model. Results showed that the presence of Al₂O₃ NPs catalyst not only reduced pyrolysis temperature and activation energy but also improved the quality of bio-oil.

KEYWORDS:

• Catalytic pyrolysis
• nanoparticles
• corncob
• bio-oil
• aluminium oxide

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rida Khalid

Miss Rida Khalid received her MPhil degrees from the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan in 2020. She is currently doing her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Muhammad Imran Din at PU, Lahore, Pakistan. Her present research interests include polymer microgels, hybrid microgels, Semi-Conductors, Nanocatalysis, Pyrolysis, and Photocatalysis. He has published over 40 research articles in leading international journals. E-mail: [email protected]

Muhammad Imran Din

Dr. Muhammad Imran Din (Associate Professor) received his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur in 2013. He joined the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, in November 2009. His field of interest is adsorption by activated carbon, theoretical chemistry, computational chemistry and material chemistry. Currently he is working on nanotechnology, pyrolysis and high surface area activated carbon. His research work is published in different international journals and presented at various international conferences held worldwide. He has published over 140 research articles in leading international journals. E-mail: [email protected]

Zaib Hussain

Dr. Zaib Hussain (Professor) graduated from university of Glasgow (UK) with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in pure and Applied Chemistry and completed her Ph.D. research degree from Brunel University (UK) in 1999. She has supervised over 100 post graduate students both nationally and internationally and has more than 90 publication to her credit and author of 1 book. E-mail: [email protected]