Non-isothermal thermogravimetric pyrolysis kinetics of waste petroleum refinery sludge by isoconversional approach

Pyrolysis of petroleum refinery sludge has received global acclamation as a clean conversion technique for providing solution of sludge disposal as well as efficient resource utilization. This communication reports the kinetics study of pyrolysis of petroleum refinery sludge. Experiments were carried out by means of thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates of 5, 10 and 20°C min⁻¹. The pyrolytic reaction is significant in the temperature range of 200–350°C and analysis and evaluation of kinetic parameters is done in the 100–500°C region of non-isothermal TG curves obtained in nitrogen atmosphere. The activation energy is calculated by iso-conversional method, then other kinetic parameters are determined by considering single reaction and two reaction global kinetic model. Two-reaction model is found to fit satisfactorily the experimental results.