Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Distillers Grains and Solubles in Nitrogen and Air

Authors

Lijun Wang, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State UniversityFollow
Ajay Kumar, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Milford Hanna, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Curtis L. Weller, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
D. D. Jones, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in Energy Sources, Part A 31 (2009), pp. 797–806; doi: 10.1080115567030701752743 Copyright © 2009 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Used by permission.

Abstract

The pyrolysis and oxidation kinetics of distillers grains and solubles were determined using thermogravimetric analysis. The starting temperature of pyrolysis and oxidation of distillers grains and solubles increased with the increase of heating rate and initial moisture content. The pyrolysis and oxidation of distillers grains and solubles were completed at 650°C and 850°C, respectively, which were independent of the heating rate and the initial moisture content. The residual weights of distillers grains and solubles after pyrolysis and oxidation were 27.15% and 5.49% of the original dry mass of distillers grains and solubles. Thermogravimetrical analysis data was used to determine kinetic parameters of the thermal degradation of distillers grains and solubles. Predicted dynamic residual weights of distillers grains and solubles during thermal degradation agreed well with experimental data. Keywords: biomass, distillers grains and solubles, kinetics, TGA, thermochemical