Thermogravimetric study of the pyrolysis of waste wood

A thermogravimetric study of the pyrolysis of three different types of waste wood (forest wood, old furniture and used pallets) is carried out in a TGA equipment using dynamic and isothermal techniques. Isothermal runs were carried out at two temperature levels, one between 225 degrees and 325 degrees C (low range) and the other, between 700 degrees and 900 degrees C (high range). Results show a good agreement between the kinetic parameters obtained from either dynamic or isothermal techniques. It must be remarked that the own chemical composition of each type of wood together with the compounds added to the wood for each application, play a fundamental role in the kinetic behavior of their thermal decomposition. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.