Kinetic study of the pyrolysis of waste wood

The kinetics of the weight loss for the thermal decomposition of five different types of waste wood (forest wood, wood from demolition of buildings, dismantled slot machines, old furniture, and used or broken pallets) was investigated by dynamic and isothermal experiments in a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) apparatus. Isothermal runs were carried out at two temperature levels, one between 225 and 325 degrees C (low range) and the other between 700 and 900 degrees C (high range). Results from both kind of experiments demonstrate that the weight loss of these materials is characterized by two main stages: cracking of cellulose and lignin and cracking of residual organic compounds. Kinetic parameters for each type of waste wood are presented. It must be remarked that the individual 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.