Abstract—In this research work, the pyrolytic and kinetic characteristics of a green macro algae, Codium Fragile (C. Fragile) as a model for marine biomass was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method in the range of 313 K to 973 K at atmospheric pressure. Proximate analysis of the freeze dried macro algae showed 6.5% water content, 58% degradable products, 10.5% char, and 25% ash content. The influences of particle size, initial weight of the sample, and heating rate on decomposition of the algae have been investigated. Both particle size and initial weight of the sample do not have a significant effect on the TG profile of the algae pyrolysis. In addition, the TGA and DTG (differential thermogravimetric) curves of algae differed significantly for variation in heating rates. The DTG results showed that there are three zones to the pyrolysis; and mainly second zone was significantly affected with heating rates. The non-isothermic integral isoconventional methods were used to obtain the kinetic parameters from data of the pyrolysis reactions of C. Fragile in the second zone. The corresponding activation energies of pyrolysis and decomposition stage of C. Fragile were calculated based on the weight loos data obtained from DTG data using the most popular methods (Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Fredman, and Coast-Redfren methods).
Index Terms—Codium Fragile, Green Algae, Kinetic, Marine Biomass, Pyrolysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis
S. Daneshvar and K. Otsuka are with the Department of Marine System Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, JAPAN (e-mail:somayeh@marine.osakafu-u.ac.jp, otsuka@marine.osakafu-u.ac.jp)
F. Salak was with Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CANADA (f.salak @yahoo.com).
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Cite: S. Daneshvar, F. Salak, and K. Otsuka, "Pyrolytic Behavior of Green Macro Algae and Evaluation of Its Activation Energy," International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 256-263, 2012.
