Thermal degradation studies of PVC with time-resolved pyrolysis GC and derivative TGA

This thermal degradation study reports the application of “time-resolved” pyrolysis gas chromatography (PGC) in addition to derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTGA) to a series of PVC homopolymers with differing branch content and to a model copolymer series with low amounts of propylene in an otherwise vinyl chloride chain. Benzene and toluene generation and decay envelopes were determined during the controlled thermal degradation and related to the derivative TGA experiments. These data allowed interpretation as to the microstructure of the respective polymers and its effect on the degradative pathways. It was concluded that the branch content was not a dominant factor in the initiation of thermal degradation, although it was a factor in other stages of the complex mechanism. A unique fragmentation step was noted only under oxidative thermal exposures, which gave additional support for the theory of low-level unsaturation sites as being significant triggers in the decomposition mechanism.     

Thermal characteristics of bitumen pyrolysis

The pyrolysis behavior of bitumen was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer–mass spectrometer system (TG–MS) and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) as well as a pyrolysis-gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system (Py-GC/MS). TG results showed that there were three stages of weight loss during pyrolysis—less than 110, 110–380, and 380–600 °C. Using distributed activation energy model, the average activation energy of the thermal decomposition of bitumen was calculated at 79 kJ mol⁻¹. The evolved gas from the pyrolysis showed that organic species, such as alkane and alkene fragments had a peak maximum temperature of 130 and 480 °C, respectively. Benzene, toluene, and styrene released at 100 and 420 °C. Most of the inorganic compounds, such as H₂, H₂S, COS, and SO₂, released at about 380 °C while the CO₂ had the maximum temperature peaks at 400 and 540 °C, respectively. FTIR spectra were taken of the residues of the different stages, and the results showed that the C–H bond intensity decreased dramatically at 380 °C. Py-GC/MS confirmed the composition of the evolved gas. The DSC revealed the endothermic nature of the bitumen pyrolysis.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of short-segment block copolyesters and copolyether–esters

The effects of chain structure and processing variables on the microstructure and linear viscoelastic behavior of a series of copolyether–ester block polymers are described. In addition, the random copolyester analogs of the hard block are examined. The ester segments are composed of two isomers, poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) (PTMT) and poly(tetramethylene isophthalate) (PTMI), which possess significantly different crystallization kinetics. The ratio of PTMT to PTMI in the series has been systematically varied to alter the crystallizability without changing the chemical composition. The results of differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle x-ray diffraction, and dynamic mechanical characterization are presented. Copolymerization of a second ester shortens the average sequence length of the first ester, resulting in melting-point depression for crystals of the first polyester and substantial lowering of the dynamic mechanical storage modulus above the glass transition of the intercrystalline phase. The melting-point depression may be predicted by using Flory's model for random copolymers, but the calculated heats of fusion are significantly lower than those obtained from diluent melting-point depression.     

Thermoanalytical studies of pitch pyrolysis

Characterization of pitches by thermal analysis techniques is highly relevant to the practical use of these materials, as they undergo heat treatments in all of their utilization processes. The aim of this work was to improve the interpretation of the complex DTA curves of pitches by comparison with model compounds. For this, TG/DTG/DTA was used to study under identical conditions the pyrolysis of a petroleum pitch and a coal tar pitch as well as a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Results were interpreted as a function of the molecular structure, pyrolysis reactivity and graphitizability of cokes from the hydrocarbons. It is concluded that condensation and polymerization, which are the most likely exothermal reactions predominant in petroleum pitches, indicate the presence therein of reactive molecules. Alternatively, endothermal phenomena such as distillation, depolymerization and cracking, predominant in coal tar pitches, suggest the presence of light, little reactive aromatic molecules.Financial support from DGICYT (project PB87-0456) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Thermal self-sustainability of biochar production by pyrolysis

The pyrolysis of several agricultural and biofuel production residues (grape residues, sugarcane residues, dried distiller's grain, palm oil residues, apple pomace and forestry residue) has been carried out in a pilot bubbling fluidized bed pyrolyzer operating under a range of temperature from 300 to 600 °C and two vapor residence times (2 and 5 s), with the aim of determining their pyrolysis behavior including products yields and heat balance. The composition of the product gases was determined, from which their heating value was calculated. The liquid bio-oil was recovered with cyclonic condensers. The thermal sustainability of the pyrolysis process was estimated by considering the energy contribution of the product gases and of the liquid bio-oil in relation to the pyrolysis heat requirements. The most promising biomass feedstocks for the sustainable production of biochar were indentified. Furthermore, this study presented the char yield in relation to the excess heat that could be obtained by combusting the gas and bio-oil coproducts of biochar production, as functions of pyrolysis temperature and vapor residence time.     

Thermal decomposition mechanism of levoglucosan during cellulose pyrolysis

Levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose) decomposition is an important step during cellulose pyrolysis and for secondary tar reactions. The mechanism of levoglucosan thermal decomposition was studied in this paper using density functional theory methods. The decomposition included direct CO bond breaking, direct CC bond breaking, and dehydration. In total, 9 different pathways, including 16 elementary reactions, were studied, in which levoglucosan serves as a reactant. The properties of the reactants, transition states, intermediates, and products for every elementary reaction were obtained. It was found that 1-pentene-3,4-dione, acetaldehyde, 2,3-dihydroxypropanal, and propanedialdehyde can be formed from the CO bond breaking decomposition reactions. 1,2-Dihydroxyethene and hydroxyacetic acid vinyl ester can be formed from the CC bond breaking decomposition reactions. It was concluded that CO bond breaking is easier than CC bond breaking due to a lower activation energy and a higher released energy. During the 6 levoglucosan dehydration pathways, one water molecule which composed of a hydrogen atom from C3 and a hydroxyl group from C2 is the preferred pathway due to a lower activation energy and higher product stability.     

Thermal characterisation of microalgae under slow pyrolysis conditions

Aquatic microalgae have high potential for production of bio-chemicals, liquid transport fuels and charcoal. Their main advantage over existing energy crops is that they have faster growth rates and do not compete with food production. In this study six species of microalgae (Tetraselmis chui, Chlorella like, Chlorella vulgaris, Chaetocerous muelleri, Dunaliella tertiolecta and Synechococcus) were selected, presenting a broad cross-section of physical characteristics and known behaviour under cultivation. The objective of this work was to ascertain differences in thermal conversion behaviour between the microalgae species under slow pyrolysis conditions.The samples were first analysed with a Computer Aided Thermal Analysis (CATA) technique at a standard heating rate of 10 °C/min. For all species, the energy required to achieve thermal conversion was found to be approximately 1 MJ/kg. Gas chromatography was then applied to measure the evolution of biogas compounds with temperature. The heat of combustion of the biogas compounds was estimated to vary significantly between species, ranging from 1.2 to 4.8 MJ/kg.Pyrolysis oil product yields were also estimated at 500 °C. The oils produced at this temperature were collected and their molecular weight distribution assessed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation (MALDI). The species were found to produce up to 43% by volume of bio-oils. In all samples the char fraction remained above one third of total sample weight.     

Thermal decomposition of polybutadienes by pyrolysis gas chromatography

The thermal decomposition of cis-1,4-, trans-1,4-, and 1,2-polybutadienes (PBD) in the temperature range 450–900°C was investigated by pyrolysis gas chromatography (PGC). The cis- and trans-PBDs have closely similar product distribution and can be readily distinguished at lower temperatures of pyrolysis from the 1,2-PBD by the low amount of vinyl cyclohexene (VCH) produced by the 1,2 species. The amount of butadiene (BD) produced by 1,2-PBD varies with the tacticity of the polymer; the greater syndiotactic yields a lesser amount of BD. A method of determining the 1,4 and the 1,2 contents of PBD based on the ratios of peak heights of ethylene (C2) to VCH, propylene (C3) to VCH, and BD to VCH is presented. The advantages of this method are discussed. The nature and composition of the products of pyrolysis in the temperature range 540–900°C are presented and the mechanism of degradation at these elevated temperatures is explained.     

Thermal degradation of polyvinyl-trimethyl-silane by pyrolysis gas chromatography

Pyrolysis Gas Chromatographic investigations have been carried out on a vinyl polymer containing silicon in the side-group. Comparison of the mechanism of degradation of isotactic polyvinyl-trimethyl-silane with those of other vinyl polymers indicates the importance of the side-group in the thermal decomposition of polymers of this type.We have identified the volatile pyrolysis products and studied the effect of pyrolysis conditions on their production. From the point of view of thermal degradation, polyvinyl-trimethyl-silane behaves like polypropylene but unlike polystyrene. During the degradation, random initiation is followed by intramolecular hydrogen abstraction, mainly leading to trimer. This reaction is faster than monomer formation by depropagation. We conclude that, in thermal degradation, the most important property of the side-group is not its size but its chemical nature.     

Thermal behaviour of fentanyl and its analogues during flash pyrolysis

Flash pyrolysis of fentanyl and its analogues has been studied on pyrolysis-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (Py-GC-MS) system. Initial pyrolytic fragmentation of these compounds led to the formation of N-substituted-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine and N-phenylpropanamide as the primary pyrolytic products. Moreover, depending up on the furnace temperature, these pyrolytic products can also undergo further fragmentation to give different compounds. We, herein, discuss the probable fragmentation routes of parent as well as pyrolytic products. This study will be useful while developing technologies for thermal aerosol generation of fentanyl and related compounds.     

O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖热解反应机理的理论研究

为了从微观上理解半纤维素热解过程及其主要产物的形成演变机理,采用密度泛函理论方法B3LYP/6-31G++(d,p),对O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖的热解反应机理进行了量子化学理论研究。在热解过程中,O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖中的O-乙酰基首先脱出,形成乙酸和中间体IM₁,该步反应能垒为269.4 kJ/mol。IM₁进一步发生开环反应形成IM₂,开环反应能垒较低,为181.8 kJ/mol。对中间体IM₂设计了四种可能的热解反应途径,对各种反应的反应物、产物、中间体和过渡态的结构进行了能量梯度全优化,计算了各热解反应途径的热力学和动力学参数。计算结果表明,反应路径(4)和反应路径(2)是O-乙酰基-吡喃木糖热解的主要反应通道,乙酸、乙醛、乙醇醛、丙酮、CO、CO₂、CH₄等小分子产物是热解的主要产物。这与相关实验结果分析是一致的。     

Thermal degradation mechanism of methacrylonitrile-styrene copolymers on flash pyrolysis

The thermal degradation mechanisms of random copolymers of methacrylonitrile (MAN) and styrene (St) have been investigated by pyrolysis gas chromatography in the temperature range of 358 to 920?C using a Curie point pyrolyzer (JHP-2) and comparing results with the results from TG/DTA-FTIR apparatus (SII-6200, JASCO-320). The amount of St monomer from decomposition of the copolymer is higher than that from P(St) alone; whilst that of MAN monomer from copolymer is lower than that from P(MAN). This phenomenon reflects the boundary effect in the pyrolysis of copolymer. The thermal degradation mechanisms of copolymers are discussed in terms of the competition between the depolymerization and the back biting reaction on the basis of bond dissociation energies of C-C and C-H bonds in the copolymer chain.     

Thermal properties of random copolyesters of PET and 3- and 3,5-bromo-substituted p-hydroxybenzoic acids. II

Melt-polycondensation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and 3-bromo-p-acetoxybenzoic acid or 3,5-dibromo-p-acetoxybenzoic acid in different mole ratios yielded random copolyesters. The copolyesters have higher T_gs than PET because of an increase in mol % of the substituted p-oxy-benzoate units and follow Wood's equation for copolymer T_gs. Using this equation, we calculated the T_gs of the homopolymers of 3-bromo-p-oxybenzoate and 3,5-dibromo-p-oxybenzoate, which are not available experimentally, to be 113 and 123°C, respectively. Up to certain percentages of the comonomer composition the copolyesters exhibited cold crystallization and melt transitions which we attribute to the crystallizable segments of PET. The variation in melting temperatures in the composition of the copolymer was explained by Flory's theory. The differences in the melting behavior of the polymer, annealed at various crystallization temperatures for a constant time interval, throws light on the morphological changes that took place in it. Using the Hoffman and Weeks method, we determined the extrapolated equilibrium melting temperatures of these copolyester which were used to calculate the enthalpy of melting for the crystallizable units.     

Thermal and kinetic study of tyre waste pyrolysis via TG-FTIR-MS analysis

The world production of tyre waste amounts to 5·10⁶ ton year^–1, 2·10⁶ tons of which are produced in Europe, but the final destination of nearly 65–70% of them is the landfill, despite the high added value materials lost and the consequent environmental impact. Treatments alternative to landfilling take into account reconstruction and reuse of the tyres or the matter and/or energy recovery by means of thermal treatment processes (incineration, gasification and pyrolysis). Among these, pyrolysis seems to be a promising and realistic alternative to attain the conversion of tyre waste into valuable and reusable products. Present work relates to experimental tests and results obtained for the study of tyre waste pyrolysis, conducted by means of thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG) of the material and the simultaneous determination, through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and mass spectrometry (MS), of the decomposition products. The analysis of the volatile fraction allows to isolate, within the thermograms, the evolution of products referable to specific tyre components and therefore it suggests the application of a multi-component decomposition model. The kinetic model consequently developed agrees fairly well with the experimental data.     

Thermoanalytical studies of the pyrolysis of organic polymers

Some applications of thermoanalytical techniques (TG and DTA) to the study of organic polymer pyrolysis are described. It is shown that in order to obtain meaningful kinetic parameters strict control of environmental conditions is required. Experimental results are given for selected ethylene-propylene co- and ter-polymers, for halogenated polymers including polyvinyl chloride and neoprene in admixture with ferric oxide, and for other materials.     

Relevance of analytical pyrolysis studies to biomass conversion

The principles and methods of soft ionization mass spectrometry in combination with pyrolysis of macromolecules are outlined. Essential features of the newly developed techniques are the extension of the recorded mass range and the almost exclusive formation of molecular ions of the pyrolyzates. Using field ionization and field desorption mass spectrometry at low and high mass resolution, with electrical and photographic detection, pyrolysis products of biomass were analyzed for the first time. The results of flash pyrolysis by Curie-point heating and thermally programmed degradation of biopolymers are compared.The main topic is the evaluation of the methodology for time- and temperature-resolved pyrolysis. The thermograms and pyrolysis mass spectra obtained enable the study of pyrolysis reactions and the chemical fingerprinting of complex biological matter. The kinetics for the devolatilization of individual chemical species or classes of compounds can be monitored. Curie-point pyrolysis of biopolymers such as kappa-carrageenan and time-programmed degradation of cellulose and lignin are reported. Furthermore, preliminary investigations of pine wood and coal illustrate the potential of the introduced methods.     

Thermal degradation of copolymers of styrene and methyl-vinyl-silane by pyrolysis gas chromatography

Pyrolysis gas chromatographic investigations have been carried out on copolymers of styrene with trimethyl-vinyl-silane and of styrene with dimethyl-phenyl-vinyl-silane, in order to study the mechansims of thermal degradation and the copolymer structures. We have identified the pyrolysis products and measured their relative amounts. The experiments show that the controlling factor in the mechanism of the degradation is the nature of the side-group attached to the carbon atom at which chain scission occurs. If this side-group is phenyl, the main degradation process is depropagation; if it is if it is trimethyl-silyl or dimethyl-phenyl-silyl, intramolecular hydrogen abstraction followed by β scission becomes more important than depropagation. From the point of view of degradation mechanism, the nature of the side-group attached to the carbon atom from which the hydrogen is abstracted is of minor importance.We estimated the average copolymer block length from the amounts of products containing both comonomers as well as from the amounts of trimer composed of the same monomer.     

Thermal studies of arylsulfinylamines

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Thermal examinations of some arylsulfinylamines containing benzene and naphtalene rings were carried out. It was found that the arylsulfinylamines of...     

Thermal studies of polyvinylcarbazole and polyvinyldibromocarbazole

The thermal stabilities and behaviour of polyvinylcarbazole and polyvinyldibromocarbazole were investigated by a derivatograph. The initial and final temperatures of decomposition of these polymers were determined and their thermal properties compared.