Kinetic models for the thermal degradation of heterogeneous materials

The kinetics of the primary decomposition and the tar cracking of some wastes is compared and discussed. The wastes considered are almond shells both impregnated and non-impregnated with CoCl2, municipal solid waste (MSW), lignin and polyethylene. The appliances used were the following: an analytical Pyroprobe 100 or 1000, thermobalances and a fluidized sand bed reactor. In the kinetic models considered, the influence of heat transfer is analyzed, especially in the Pyroprobe and the fluidized bed reactor, where the heating rate is very high and the samples decompose during the heating period. The influence of the cooling period in the Pyroprobe is also analyzed.