Thermal degradation kinetics of sugarcane leaves (Saccharum officinarum L) using thermo-gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric studies

[Display omitted] •Detailed analysis of TGA-DTG and DSC results of sugar cane leaves.•Model free methods have been used to evaluate kinetic parameters for sugar cane leaves.•Uses Vyazovkin and Vyazovkin (AIC) kinetic model for sugar cane leaves.•Multiple linear regression method has also been successfully used.•A multi-step reaction mechanism through z(α) master plots has been ascertained. Pyrolysis of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) leaves (SCL) has been investigated using DTA/TGA and DSC techniques. Proximate and ultimate analyses and calorific value measurement have been carried out using standard protocols. The sugar cane leaves contain 44% cellulose, 22% hemicellulose and 17% lignin. The pyrolysis have been carried out at six heating rates varying from 5 to 40 °C/min. Analysis of the pyrolysis results has been carried using iso-conversional model free methods as well as multiple linear regression method. For the fractional conversion range of 0.05–0.95, the average apparent activation energy values evaluated from iso-conversional methods have ranged from 214.9 to 239.6 kJ/mol where as in the case of multiple linear regression analysis it has ranged from 25.06 to 57.23 kJ/mol. The multi-step reaction mechanism has been investigated using the Criado method. The results of this study are useful for the design of large scale biomass thermal conversion process.