Thermogravimetric studies of the behavior of lignite–biomass blends during devolatilization

The behaviour of Greek pre-dried lignite, four biomass materials and their blends in the devolatilization stage was investigated by thermogravimetry. Biomass was added in the percentages of 5, 10 and 20% wt. in the fuel blend. All the tests were carried out in nitrogen atmosphere under dynamic conditions at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. The kinetic parameters for the thermal conversion of the pure fuels were determined through the independent parallel, first-order, reaction model. No significant interaction was detected in the solid phase between the components of the coal–biomass blends, under the same experimental conditions.