Comparative evaluation of thermal oxidative decomposition for oil-plant residues via thermogravimetric analysis: Thermal conversion characteristics, kinetics, and thermodynamics.

Thermal oxidative decomposition characteristics, kinetics, and thermodynamics of rape straw (RS), rapeseed meal (RM), camellia seed shell (CS), and camellia seed meal (CM) were evaluated via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TG-DTG-DSC curves demonstrated that the combustion of oil-plant residues proceeded in three stages, including dehydration, release and combustion of organic volatiles, and chars oxidation. As revealed by combustion characteristic parameters, the ignition, burnout, and comprehensive combustion performance of residues were quite distinct from each other, and were improved by increasing heating rate. The kinetic parameters were determined by Coats-Redfern approach. The results showed that the most possible combustion mechanisms were order reaction models. The existence of kinetic compensation effect was clearly observed. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔG, ΔS) at peak temperatures were calculated through the activated complex theory. With the combustion proceeding, the variation trends of ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS for RS (RM) similar to those for CS (CM).

Pyrolysis of oil-plant wastes in a TGA and a fixed-bed reactor: Thermochemical behaviors, kinetics, and products characterization.

Pyrolysis characteristics of four distinct oil-plant wastes were investigated using TGA and fixed-bed reactor coupled with GC. TGA experiments showed that the pyrolysis behaviors were related to biomass species and heating rates. As the heating rate increased, TG and DTG curves shifted to the higher temperatures, and the comprehensive devolatilization index obviously increased. The remaining chars from TGA experiments were higher than those obtained from the fixed-bed experiments. The crack of tars at high temperatures enhanced the formation of non-condensable gases. During the pyrolysis, C-O and CO2 were the major gases. Chars FTIR showed that the functional groups of O-H, C-H(n), C=O, C-O, and C-C gradually disappeared from 400 °C on. The kinetic parameters were calculated by Coats-Redfern approach. The results manifested that the most appropriate pyrolysis mechanisms were the order reaction models. The existence of kinetic compensation effect was evident.

Temperaturas e disponibilidades hídricas do substrato na germinação de sementes de niger / Temperatures and substrate water availability on niger seeds germination

O niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) é uma oleaginosa com potencial para a produção de biodiesel com poucas informações a respeito da qualidade fisiológica com que suas sementes são produzidas. Objetivou-se avaliar a germinação e o crescimento das plântulas de niger sob diferentes temperaturas e disponibilidades hídricas no substrato. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido em câmaras de germinação do tipo B.O.D. com temperaturas constantes (5, 10, 15, 20 e 25 °C) e uma temperatura alternada (20-30 °C). Para o segundo experimento as sementes foram semeadas sobre substrato de papel umedecido com soluções de Polietileno Glicol 6000 em diferentes potenciais osmóticos (0,0; -0,2; -0,4; -0,8 e -1,2 MPa) e mantidas em câmara de germinação do tipo B.O.D. na temperatura de 25°C. Avaliou-se a porcentagem, o índice de velocidade e o tempo médio de germinação, os comprimentos da parte aérea e da raiz e as massas fresca e seca das plântulas. As temperaturas de 20, 25 e 20-30 °C aumentaram a porcentagem e a velocidade de germinação das sementes de niger, que são sensíveis a temperaturas inferiores a 15 °C. A redução da disponibilidade hídrica do substrato a partir do potencial osmótico de -0,2 MPa prejudica a germinação e o crescimento de plântulas.

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) is an oilplant with biodiesel potential production. However, there is little information about the seeds physiological quality production. This work aimed to evaluate niger germination and seedlings growth submitted to different temperature and substrate water availability. The first experiment was carried out in a germination chamber as B.O.D. with constants temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20 e 25 °C) and an alternated temperature (20-30 °C). For the second experiment seeds were sowed on paper substrate Polyethylene Glicol 6000 different osmotic potentials moisture solutions (0.0; -0.2; -0.4; -0.8 e -1.2 MPa) and it were kept in the germination chamber as B.O.D. at 25°C. Evaluated the germination percentage, germination speed index, germination medium time, aerial part and root length and fresh and dry seedlings mass. Results showed the 20-30, 25 e 20 °C temperatures favored the niger seeds germination percentage and speed index. Niger seeds are sensitive to temperatures below 15 °C and the substrate water availability decrease from -0.2 MPa prejudice seeds germination and seedlings growth.