Thermogravimetric studies on co-pyrolysis of raw/torrefied biomass and coal blends

The pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis behaviours of cotton stalk (CS), torrefied cotton stalk (TCS) and mined coal, as single fuels, and their blends, have been examined through thermogravimetric analysis. Biomass has been torrefied at 250°C for 45 min to enhance physicochemical properties, and then mixed with mined coal for co-pyrolysis. Thermal degradation of CS and TCS is characterized by a reaction. However, this is not the case for mined coal, which shows a single-stage reaction. The thermal degradation of all blends was done in three stages: dehydration; biomass and small mined coal; and lignin or mined coal. A similar trend emerged for mass loss of individual fuels, which depended mainly on their ratios in the blend. The kinetics of pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis of all fuels were calculated at 20°Cmin−1 heating rate using the Coats−Redfern model-fitting method.