Non-isothermal kinetic parametric evaluation of Tectona grandis using model-fitting methods

Non-isothermal kinetic parameters of the pyrolysis process of Tectona grandis were evaluated with different model-fitting methods. The thermal degradation of the Tectona grandis was examined using a thermogravimetric analyser. Pulverized Tectona grandis (6.5 mg) was heated from 30 to 800 °C at varying heating rates (5, 10 and 15 °C/min) in an inert environment. The results depicted that heating rate has no effect on weight loss during the reactive drying zone. However, as the thermal analysis progressed into the active pyrolysis and passive pyrolysis zones, the weight loss decreased with increase in heating rate. The kinetic parameters evaluation revealed that the GB model was best fit to evaluate the kinetic parameters of teak in the active pyrolysis zone, while GB and Mampel models were considered most appropriate for the evaluation of the kinetic parameters in the passive pyrolysis zone. Model-fitting method has the capacity to capture wide range of fractional conversion.