KineticModeling of Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) PeelUsing Thermo Gravimetric Analysis

摘要

This work aims at the kinetic studies of the hydrochar produced from hydrothermal carbonization of citrul-luslanatus(watermelon) peel. The hydrochar was prepared at optimized conditions regarding Carbon con-tent, High Heating Value and Yield at experimental conditions of 210?°C and 1?h operation. The Watermelon peel hydrocharkineticswereinvestigated at heating rates of 5?°Cmin?1 , 10?°Cmin~(?1) , 15?°Cmin~(?1) , & 20?°Cmin~(?1) , through thermogravimetric analysis. Two iso-conversionalmodels were applied to compute the kinetic param-eters and pyrolysis behavior of hydrochar. The kinetic study using Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) model revealed that for a conversion range of 0.1 to 0.8,the activation energy was observed to be in the range of 146 to 220?kJ/mol. Similarly, the activation energies estimated through Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) model also gave a similar range of kinetic energies from 147 to 219?kJ/mol. Moreover, higher pre-exponential factor values ex-plained the convoluted structure of biomass. The regression coeficient (?2 ) for both the models is high and they have shown similar activation energieswhich confrms that the best reactionmechanismis predicted. This research helps in establishing an economical and eficient technology for producing clean bioenergy and useful chemicals.