Pyrolysis by thermogravimetric analysis of blends of peat with coals of different characteristics and biomass

In this study, an investigation was carried out into the thermal behaviours of peat, reed, lignite, bituminous coal and blends of these with peat. The blends were prepared in 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20. The samples were pyrolysed in a TG analyzer in a nitrogen atmosphere (50 mL/ min) at temperatures ranging from 25 to 900 °C. Using TG/DTG graphs, variations were investigated, which occurred in reaction intervals, percent of weight loss, peak temperatures and maximum devolatilization rate. The activation energy (E) and pre-exponential constant (A) were calculated using the Arrhenius type kinetic model. © 2007 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved