THERMOGRAVIMETRIC KINETIC-STUDY OF THE PYROLYSIS OF ALMOND SHELLS AND ALMOND SHELLS IMPREGNATED WITH COCL2

A kinetic study of the pyrolysis of almond shells, both with and without impregnation with CoCl2, has been carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The experimental data have been discussed, assuming a scheme of two reactions as a simplification of the complex network of reactions. The corresponding kinetic parameters (apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor), assuming first-order kinetics for both processes, have been calculated within the 200-410-degrees-C temperature range, for almond shells without impregnation, and between 150-420-degrees-C for almond shells impregnated with CoCl2. When pyrolysing almond shells without impregnation and assuming an overall reaction, the results agree with those obtained from other techniques (Analytical Equipment Pyroprobe 100 and Fluidized Bed Reactor pyrolysis) and also compare well with other results for pyrolysis of cellulose reported in the literature. In the pyrolysis of almond shells impregnated with CoCl2, the results obtained compare well with those from the Fluidized Bed Reactor and have been useful for explaining the differences between the kinetic data deduced from the Fluidized Bed Reactor and the Pyroprobe 100.