A thermogravimetic kinetic study of uncatalyzed diesel soot oxidation

Isothermal and non-isothermal thermogravimetric experiments (TG) with real and synthetic (Printex U) soot were performed at different O₂ concentrations (5–22%O₂/N₂), sample masses (0.5–10 mg), heating (5–20 °C min⁻¹) and flow rates (80–100 mL min⁻¹). The significance of the experimental and calculation uncertainties (i.e. experimental parameter dependencies, calculation method and mass transfer limitations), which are related to TG for the extraction of chemical kinetics, was explored. Finally, an intrinsic kinetic equation for soot oxidation is proposed.