Insight into the thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of Tamarindus indica shell using thermogravimetric analysis

The shells of Tamarindus indica could serve as a primary source of energy generation from biomass. This paper deals with non-isothermal thermogravimetric experiments conducted at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 & DEG;C/min with temperatures ranging between 25 & DEG;C and 700 & DEG;C to evaluate the kinetic behavior and the thermodynamic properties of Tamarindus indica shell pyrolysis. Three iso-conversational models, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Starink, and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), were used to identify the activation energy (E-a), Enthalpy (& UDelta;H), Entropy (& UDelta;S), and Gibbs free energy (& UDelta;G) of the Tamarindus indica shell biomass. The average activation energy when estimated using KAS, Starink, and FWO models was found to be 209.1, 209.3, and 207.5 kJ/mol with R-2 values of 0.91, 0.91, and 0.92, respectively. The average & UDelta;H, & UDelta;S, and & UDelta;G values using the KAS method were found to be 204.4 kJ/mol, 82.2 J/mol K, and 155.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The values of kinetic and thermodynamic triplets indicate that the reaction is non-spontaneous. The findings of this present study reveal that there is an opportunity for Tamarindus indica shells to be used as an alternative biomass fuel due to their eco-friendly nature and ideal properties.