Thermogravimetric analyses and kinetic modeling of pellets built with three Cameroonian biomass

Pyrolysis and combustion processes of pellets built with three Cameroonian biomass were performed in a thermobalance to determine their thermal degradation profiles and the associated kinetic parameters. The four samples were heated from ambient temperature to 900 °C under three low temperature rates (5, 10, and 20 °C/min) and under non-oxidative (nitrogen) or oxidative (synthetic air) atmospheres. The kinetic parameters associated to the pyrolysis or combustion of the four samples were estimated through the Extended Independent Parallel Reaction (EIPR) model, taking into account the emissions of extractives or not, depending on the sample. The thermal degradations of the pellets were finally compared to those of the three base materials with their proportions.