Characterization of Lignocellulosic Biofuels by TGA

Four types of biomass for use as biofuels were selected (pellets, shelled pine sawdust, rice and Rumex tianschanicus) and analyzed with a TA Instrument TGA Q500IF to define the three main components content (hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin). Runs were carried out under pyrolysis conditions and by means an algorithm implemented with Scilab tool. Therefore, the main objective was to develop a tool to determine parameters such as ash content, moisture content, amount of char, and content of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin for combustion reactor from thermogravimetric analysis. This tool will be later integrated into a rigorous model that allows predicting the behavior of alternative biomass combustion plant residues.