Pyrolysis of Pine Sawdust by TG-FTIR Analysis

A study was carried out to study the pyrolysis characteristics and gas production of pine sawdust by TG-FTIR analysis. The results showed that the main weight loss happened between 200 ℃ and 450 ℃, and the kinetic process could be simplified as a first-order reaction with an activation energy 70~80 kJ·mol-1. Smaller particle size was in favor of the pyrolysis reaction, and the differences could be observed more easily with a higher heating rate, but the effects of particle size on pyrolysis were not as prominent as that of heating rate under the experimental conditions. Higher heating rate could result in a higher initial reaction temperature and make the reaction much quicker. Especially, when the heating rate reached 50 K·min-1, a weight loss peak was observed around 735 ℃. FTIR analysis results indicated that the main gas products of pyrolysis were CO2, CO, CH4 and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons, and the effects of particle size on pyrolysis process together with the special weight loss peak around 735 ℃ were verified through semi-quantitative analysis of the concentration change of gas products.