The kinetics of tobacco pyrolysis

When tobacco is pyrolysed under non-isothermal flow conditions in an inert atmosphere, variation of the inert gas or its space velocity has only a minor effect on the profiles of formation rate versus temperature for seven product gases. Thus, mass transfer processes between the tobacco surface and the gas phase are very rapid, and the products are formed at an overall rate which is determined entirely by that of the chemical reactions.The effect of radical chain inhibitors (nitrogen oxides) on the pyrolysis is complex because of the resultant oxidation. Nevertheless, no evidence was found for the occurrence of radical chain reactions in the gas phase. A small proportion (less than 10%) of all the gases monitored are formed by homogeneous decomposition of volatile and semi-volatile intermediate products, in the furnace used.At temperatures above about 600°C the reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide by the carbonaceous tobacco residue becomes increasingly important. However, when tobacco is pyrolysed in an inert atmosphere, only a small amount of carbon dioxide is produced above 600°C and consequently its reduction to carbon monoxide contributes only a small proportion to the total carbon monoxide formed above that temperature. The rate of the tobacco/carbon dioxide reaction is controlled by chemical kinetic rather than mass transfer effects. Carbon monoxide reacts with tobacco to a small extent.When the tobacco is pyrolysed in an atmosphere containing oxygen (9–21% v/v), some oxidation occurs at 200°C. At 250°C the combustion rate is controlled jointly by both kinetic and mass transfer processes, but mass transfer of oxygen in the gas phase becomes increasingly important as the temperature is increased, and it is dominant above 400°C. About 8% of the total carbon monoxide formed by combustion is lost by its further oxidation.The results imply that inside the combustion coal of a burning cigarette the actual reactions occurring are of secondary importance, the rate of supply of oxygen being the dominant factor in determining the combustion rate and heat generation. In contrast, in the region immediately behind the coal, where a large proportion of the products which enter mainstream smoke are formed by thermal decomposition of tobacco constituents, the chemistry of the tobacco substrate is critical, since the decomposition kinetics are controlled by chemical rather than mass transfer effects. tobacco substrate is critical. In addition, the heat release or absorption due to the pyrolytic reactions occurring behind the coal will depend on the chemical composition of the substrate. Thus, together with the differing thermal properties of the tobacco, the temperature gradient behind the coal should depend on the nature of the tobacco.     

Thermal degradation of aramids: Part I—Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide) and poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide)

The thermal degradation reactions of poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide) or Nomex (I) and poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide) or Kevlar (II) aramids have been investigated in the temperature range 300–700°C by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The initial degradation products below 400°C of (I) are carbon dioxide and water. At 400°C benzoic acid and 1,3-phenylenediamine are detected. Benzonitrile, aniline, benzanilide, N-(3-aminophenyl)benzamide as well as carbon monoxide and benzene are evolved in the range 430–450°C. The yields of these products increase rapidly in the range 450–550°C. Isophthalonitrile is observed at 475°C and hydrogen cyanide is detected above 550°C, as are other secondary products such as toluene, tolunitrile, biphenyl, 3-cyanobiphenyl and 3-aminobiphenyl. Pyrolysis of (II) below 500°C evolves only water and trace amounts of carbon dioxide. At 520–540°C the following degradation products have been detected: 1,4-phenylenediamine, benzonitrile, aniline, benzanilide and N-(4-aminophenyl)benzamide. These products as well as carbon dioxide and water increase appreciably between 550°C and 580°C; benzoic acid, terephthalonitrile, benzene and 4-cyanoaniline are also detected in this temperature range. Above 590°C, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, toluene, tolunitrile, biphenyl, 4-aminobiphenyl and 4-cyanobiphenyl are evolved. Degradation reactions consistent with the formation of these products, which involve initial heterolytic cleavage of the amide linkage for (I) and initial homolytic cleavage of the aromatic NH and amide bonds for (II), are described.     

Pyrolysis of poly(2-propylheptyl acrylate)

The thermal destruction processes of poly(2-propylheptyl acrylate) take place at the range of temperature 250–950 °C was investigated using pyrolysis–gas chromatography. Knowledge of the types and amounts of pyrolysis products will provide important information about the thermal degradation of homopolymer poly(2-propylheptyl acrylate) and the mechanisms involved. Unsaturated monomers 2-propylheptyl acrylate and 2-propylheptyl methacrylate, according to by-product alkyl alcohol 2-propylheptylalcohol, alkene 2-propylheptene-1, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and ethane were formed during thermal degradation of poly(2-propylheptyl acrylate).     

Thermal degradation and evolved gas analysis of N,N′-bis(2 hydroxyethyl) linseed amide (BHLA) during pyrolysis and combustion

The thermal degradation of N,N′-bis(2 hydroxyethyl) linseed amide (BHLA) was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy (TG–FTIR–MS). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal degradation process can be subdivided into three stages: sample drying (<200 °C), main decomposition (200–500 °C), and further cracking (>500 °C) of the polymer. The compound reached almost 800 °C during pyrolysis and combustion. The activation energy at the second step during combustion was slightly higher than that of pyrolysis emissions of carbon dioxide, aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide, and other gases during combustion and pyrolysis were detected by FTIR and MS spectra. It was observed that the intensities of CO₂, CO, HCN, and H₂O were very high when compared with their intensities during pyrolysis, and this was attributed to the oxidation of the decomposition product.     

Formation of carbon oxides during tobacco combustion: Pyrolysis studies in the presence of isotopic gases to elucidate reaction sequence

During the combustion of tobacco, carbon monoxide is formed by the thermal decomposition of tobacco with primary products such as carbon dioxide and water. These three processes occur in parallel and are interdependent. The temperature ranges over which each process occurs, and their relative importance have been assessed by pyrolysing tobacco in the presence of various isotopically labelled gases. Non-isothermal pyrolyses were conducted at a heating rate of 1.6 K s^?1 up to 1000°C, with the products analysed by mass spectrometer.Pyrolysis in the presence of oxygen-18 indicates that combustion of tobacco starts at 180°C. Carbon dioxide and water are formed by combustion at 180°C, while carbon monoxide is not formed as a combustion product until 460°C. The quantities of carbon monoxide and dioxide formed by thermal decomposition of tobacco above 400°C are significantly reduced by the occurrence of combustion.Pyrolysis in the presence of carbon-13 dioxide or carbon dioxide-18 shows that its major reaction, endothermic reduction to form carbon monoxide begins at 450°C. Pyrolysis in an oxygen-18/carbon-13 dioxide atmosphere has shown that this endothermic reduction of carbon dioxide occurs in parallel with the strongly exothermic oxidising reactions. 30% of the total carbon monoxide formed was produced by thermal decomposition of the tobacco. 36% was produced by combustion of the tobacco, and at least 23% was produced via carbon dioxide. The remainder was produced by an interaction of the carbon dioxide reduction and the oxidation. Similar proportion would be expected inside the reaction zone of a burning cigarette.Pyrolysis in the presence of heavy water has shown that the major reaction of the water is to quantitatively produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen above 600°C. Considerable isotopic exchange reactions also occur. Pyrolysis in the presence of carbon monoxide-18 has shown that carbon monoxide reacts with tobacco to a small extent at temperatures above 220°C mainly to abstract oxygen combined in the tobacco and produce carbon dioxide.A sequence of general chemical steps for the production of the carbon oxides and water during tobacco combustion has been deduced. This is based on the present work together with considerations of previously published studies on graphite and coal reactions.     

Thermal degradation of polymers with phenylene units in the chain. IV. Aromatic polyamides and polyimides

The breakdown mechanism of an aromatic polyamide and four polyimides has been studied under vacuum in the temperature range of 375–620°C, by using techniques described earlier, involving collection and analysis of volatile products as well as analyses of residues at different temperatures. The decomposition of the polyamide up to 375°C yielded predominantly carbon dioxide, while between 375 and 450°C about equal amounts of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide formed. Hydrogen is the major product between 450 and 550°C, along with hydrogen cyanide, methane, and carbon monoxide. The major reaction at the lower temperatures seems to be the cleavage of the linkage between the carbonyl group and the ring, with subsequent formation of a carbodiimide linkage via isocyanate intermediates, and liberation of carbon dioxide. Alternatively, cleavage between the carboxyl and the NH-group leads to the formation of carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are also the major volatile decomposition products of the polyimides at the lower temperatures. The primary cleavage reaction is believed to be the rupture of the imide ring between a carbonyl and nitrogen, with subsequent formation of isocyanate groups. The latter react with each other to form carbodiimide linkages and carbon dioxide, while the remaining benzoyl radical is the source for carbon monoxide.     

Thermal degradation and evolved gas analysis of epoxy (DGEBA)/novolac resin blends (ENB) during pyrolysis and combustion

The thermal degradation of epoxy (DGEBA) and phenol formaldehyde (novolac) resins blend was investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. The results of TGA revealed that the thermal degradation process can be subdivided into four stages: drying the sample, fast and second thermal decomposition, and further cracking process of the polymer. The total mass loss of 89.32 mass% at 950 °C is found during pyrolysis, while the polymer during the combustion almost finished at this temperature. The emissions of carbon dioxide, aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, etc., while aromatic products, are emitted at higher temperature during combustion and pyrolysis. It was observed that the intensities of CO₂, CO, H₂O, etc., were very high when compared with their intensities during pyrolysis, attributed to the oxidation of decomposition product.     

Pyrolysis of some perfluoroalkylene-linked aromatic imides

The pyrolysis of perfluoroalkylene-linked polyimides in an inert atmosphere has been studied using a pyrolysis-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. The major primary gaseous degradation products were carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In addition large amounts of silicon tetrafluoride were produced by secondary reactions. Results obtained with 1,3-di-(3-phthalimidophenyl)hexafluo0ropropane and bis[N-phenyl-1,3-dioxo-isoindolyl(5,5′)]hexafluoropropane suggest that the perfluoroalkylene groups have a greater influence on the electron-impact induced fragmentation of the imide ring than on its thermal breakdown.     

Thermal degradation of copolymers based on selected alkyl methacrylates

The thermal stability and thermal degradation of copolymers based on selected alkyl methacrylates at temperatures between 250 and 400?°C have been studied using pyrolysis?Cgas chromatography. The type and composition of thermal degradation products gave useful information about the mechanism of pyrolysis of copolymers synthesized by using typical commercially available alkyl methacrylates. It was observed that the main thermal degradation products from alkyl methacrylate copolymers are monomers of alkyl methacrylates using by synthesis. Other pyrolysis by-products formed during thermal degradation were carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ethane, methanol, ethanol, and propanol-1.     

Determination of multipolymer structure using pyrolysis gas chromatography

The thermal degradation of poly(styrene-butadiene-methylmethacrylate-butylacrylate)multipolymers has been investigated by Curie Point pyrolysis gas chromatography (PGC). Small multipolymer samples were pyrolysed in a stream of helium at 600° in a Curie Point pyrolyser directly connected to the gas chromatograph. The pyrolysis products were identified by mass spectrometry. The interpretation of each cluster of dimer and trimer peaks appearing on the chromatogram was carried out by using a statistical method (factor analysis) from which the molecular structure of the multipolymers was inferred.     

Effects of pyrolysis conditions on the physical characteristics of oil-palm-shell activated carbons used in aqueous phase phenol adsorption

Oil-palm shells, a biomass by-product from palm-oil mills, were converted into activated carbons by vacuum or nitrogen pyrolysis, followed by steam activation. The effects of pyrolysis environment, temperature and hold time on the physical characteristics of the activated carbons were studied. The optimum pyrolysis conditions for preparing activated carbons for obtaining high pore surface area are vacuum pyrolysis at a pyrolysis temperature of 675 °C and 2 h hold time. The activation conditions were fixed at a temperature of 900 °C and 1 h hold time. The activated carbons thus obtained possessed well-developed porosities, predominantly microporosities. For the pyrolysis atmosphere, it was found that significant improvement in the surface characteristics of the activated carbons was obtained for those pyrolysed under vacuum. Adsorption capacities of activated carbons were determined using phenol solution. For the activated carbons pyrolysed under optimum vacuum conditions, a maximum phenol adsorption capacity of 166 mg/g of carbon was obtained. A linear relationship between the BET surface area and the adsorptive capacity was shown.     

Gas Evolution from the Pyrolysis of Jordan Oil Shale in A Fixed-bed Reactor

Jordan oil shale from El-Lajjun deposit was pyrolysed in a fixed-bed pyrolysis reactor and the influence of the pyrolysis temperature between 400 to 620°C and the influence of the pyrolysis atmosphere using nitrogen and nitrogen/steam on the product yield and gas composition were investigated. The gases analysed were H₂, CO, CO₂ and hydrocarbons from C₁ to C₄. The results showed for both nitrogen and nitrogen/steam that increase the pyrolysis bed temperature from 400 to 520°C resulted in a significant increase in the oil yield, after which temperature the oil yield decreased. The alkene/alkane ratio including ethene/ethane, propene/propane, and butene/butane ratios, can be used as an indication of pyrolysis temperature and the magnitude of cracking reactions. Increasing alkene/alkane ratio occurring with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The alkene/alkane ratio for nitrogen/steam pyrolysis atmosphere was lower than the one found under nitrogen atmosphere. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Conversion of Methane and Carbon Dioxide in a DBD Reactor: Influence of Oxygen

A continuous plug flow reactor supported by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is used to study the conversion of methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen at different compositions. The three studied gases were diluted with helium to 3 % with an overall flow rate of 200 sccm. The 13.56 MHz plasma was ignited at atmospheric pressure. The product stream and the inlet flow were analyzed by a FTIR spectrometer equipped with a White-cell and by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The DBD reactor generates hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ethane, ethene, acetylene, formaldehyde, and methanol. Additional oxygen in the feed has positive effects on the yield of methanol, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide and reduces the total consumed energy. The hydrogen yield reaches its maximum at medium amounts of oxygen in the inlet flow. The conversion of methane increases to a limiting value of about 35 %. Methane rich feeds increase the yield of hydrogen, ethane and methanol. On the other hand, additional oxygen has a negative influence on the produced amount of C2 hydrocarbons. The conversion of methane and carbon dioxide as well as the yield of synthesis gas components and C2 hydrocarbons increases by changing the plasma power to higher values.     

Kinetic mechanism of the thermal decomposition of tobacco

Equations have been derived to describe the chemical kinetic factors that affect the rate of formation of products when a mixture of solid components (tobacco) decomposes on heating. Using these equations, a computer model of tobacco pyrolysis has been constructed which can calculate the gas formation rate/temperature profile from a given set of reaction parameters. By comparing the predictions of the model with experimental results at heating rates between 0.8 and 25 deg C s^?1, a generalised kinetic mechanism for the thermal decomposition of tobacco has been developed. For carbon monoxide and other low molecular weight gases, the mechanism is an independent formation of each gas from one solid tobacco component in each temperature region. Pyrolysis of some individual tobacco components in other studies suggests that each gas is actually produced from many components in each temperature region. This more complex mechanism is kinetically equivalent to the deduced mechanism of independent formation from one component.The region in which a given decomposition reaction takes place moves to higher temperatures as the heating rate increases. The amounts of gases formed over any temperature region from 200 to 900°C can be calculated for a given heating rate using the mechanism and the kinetic constants. The present results imply that 75–90% of the carbon monoxide produced by tobacco decomposition at temperatures up to 900°C during a puff on a cigarette corresponds to that formed in the “low temperature region” (200–450°C) defined for pyrolysis experiments at the lower heating rates of 1–10 deg C s^?1.     

The pyrolytic identification of organic molecules: III. A mechanistic approach

The results are presented of a study of the pyrolytic behavior of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol. Samples were pyrolysed in an atmosphere of helium over a temperature range of 300–1200 °C, and the volatile products were determined by gas chromatographic techniques. Mechanisms have been derived for the thermal degradation of the alcohols as an aid in the determination of their atomic constitution and their molecular structure.     

Thermal stability during pyrolysis of sunflower oil produced in the northeast of Brazil

This study aims to analyze thermal stability and make a rheological assessment of sunflower oil produced in the Northeast of Brazil, resulting from the pyrolysis process. Oil samples were submitted to thermal degradation and the reaction was evaluated by the thermogravimetric technique, at temperatures between 30 and 900?°C. Apparent activation energy was determined using the model-free kinetics theory. The coaxial cylinder system at operating temperature of 40?°C was used to obtain rheological parameters. Oil was characterized by gas chromatography. The lipid profile of the oil exhibited good quality. The activation energy of the sunflower oil was 201.2?kJ?mol^?1. Results showed the influence of physical?Cchemical characteristics of vegetable oil on the thermal decomposition process. Rheological analyses confirmed Newtonian rheological behavior. The high potential of the ??Catissol?? variety produced in Northeast Brazil as raw material for biofuel production using pyrolysis was also demonstrated.     

Thermal and catalytic degradation of pyrolytic oil from pyrolysis of municipal plastic wastes

Thermal and catalytic degradation of pyrolytic oil obtained from the commercial rotary kiln pyrolysis plant for municipal plastic waste was studied by using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst in a bench scale reactor. The characteristics of raw pyrolytic oil and also thermal and catalytic degradation of pyrolytic oil using FCC catalyst (fresh and spent FCC catalyst) under rising temperature programming was examined. The experiments were conducted by temperature programming with 10 °C/min of heating rate up to 420 °C and then holding time of 5 h. During this programming, the sampling of product oil was conducted at a different degradation temperature and also different holding time. The raw pyrolytic oil showed a wide retention time distribution in GC analysis, from 5 of carbon number to about 25, and also different product characteristics with a comparison of those of commercial oils (gasoline, kerosene and diesel). In thermal degradation, the characteristics of product oils obtained were influenced by reaction temperature under temperature programming and holding time in the reactor at 420 °C. The addition of FCC catalyst in degradation process showed the improvement of liquid and gas yield, and also high fraction of heavy hydrocarbons in oil product due to more cracking of residue. Moreover, the characteristic of oil product in catalytic degradation using both spent and fresh FCC catalysts were similar, but a relatively good effect of spent FCC catalyst was observed.     

Pyrolysis of biocollagenic wastes of vegetable tanning. Optimization and kinetic study

Three solid wastes generated from the vegetable tanning of bovine skin in the Leather Industry (shavings, trimmings and buffing dust) were mixed together in the same proportions in which they were produced and the mixture was then used as a pyrolysis precursor for this research study. The optimal pyrolysis conditions for obtaining energy from the generated fractions (char, tar and gas fraction), and the preparation of activated carbons from the carbonaceous material (char), were established. The final conditions were chosen from two different points of view, the thermogravimetric results (TG/DTG) obtained at different heating rates (2–20 °C/min) and an optimization of the pyrolysis parameters by means of experiments carried out in a conventional furnace. The pyrolysis conditions finally selected were: heating rate (5 °C/min), final temperature (750 °C), and time at final temperature (60 min) and inert gas flow (N₂ 150 ml/min). The carbonaceous material (char) obtained exhibits good properties as a solid fuel due to its high calorific value and relatively low ash content. It also shows suitable characteristics as a precursor for the preparation of activated carbons. The condensable fraction has a predominantly phenolic nature and contains significant amounts of nitrogen compounds (nitriles, diketopiperazines, etc.), alkanes, alkenes, acids and esters, derived from the decomposition of tannins and collagen, with possible industrial applications in the preparation of chemical products. The gaseous phase is rich in carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and also contains a certain amount of methane and hydrogen. The syngas content increases with the pyrolysis temperature. A kinetic study of the pyrolysis was carried out using a model of independent reactions. The variation in the heating rate produced a slight shift to higher temperatures of the decomposition peaks, although this did not significantly affect either the kinetic parameters of the degradation processes or the percentage weight losses.     

Pyrolysis oil from fast pyrolysis of maize stalk

Maize stalk was fast pyrolysed at temperatures between 420 °C and 580 °C in a fluidized-bed, and the main product of pyrolysis oil was obtained. The experimental results showed that the highest pyrolysis oil yield of 66 wt.% was obtained at 500 °C for maize stalk. Chemical composition of the pyrolysis oil acquired was analyzed by GC–MS and its heat value, stability, miscibility and corrosion characteristics were determined. These results showed that the pyrolysis oil could be directly used as a fuel oil for combustion in a boiler or a furnace without any upgrading. Alternatively, the fuel could be refined to be used by vehicles.     

Catalytic pyrolysis of Phragmites (reed): Investigation of its potential as a biomass feedstock

In this paper, thermogravimetry, TG, and pyrolysis are used for the thermochemical evaluation of the common reed (Pragmites australis) as a candidate biomass feedstock. The TG analysis indicated that the material loses 4% of its weight below 150 °C through dehydration. The main decomposition reaction occurs between 200 and 390 °C. The rate of weight loss, represented by the derivative thermogravimetric, DTG, signal indicated a multi-step reaction. Kinetic analysis helped in the resolution of the temperature ranges of the overlapping steps. The first step corresponds to the degradation of the hemi-cellulosic fraction and the second to the cellulosic fraction degradation. The TG and DTG signals of reed samples treated with increasing concentration of potassium carbonate (0.6–10 wt%) indicated a catalytic effect of the salt on reed decomposition. The temperature of maximum weight loss rate, DTGmax, exponentially decreased with increasing catalyst content, whilst the initial temperature of the decomposition decreased linearly. The pyrolysis studies were carried out in a Pyrex vertical reactor with sintered glass disc to hold the sample and to aid the fluidization with the nitrogen stream flowing upwards. The reactor was connected to a cyclone and condenser and a gas sampling device. Tar and char are collected and weighed. The gas chromatographic analysis of the evolved gases demonstrated the effect of pyrolysis temperature (400, 450, and 500 °C) on their composition. The temperature increase favors the yields of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and hydrogen at the expense of methanol and carbon dioxide. Similarly, reed samples treated with K2CO3 at 10 wt% were pyrolyzed and analyzed. Comparisons for the various parameters (yields, gas composition and carbon–hydrogen recovery) between the untreated and catalyzed reed conversion were also made.