Determination of Activation Energy from Pyrolysis of Paper Cup Waste Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

Abstract

Paper cups waste represents a valuable source of energy. Therefore, it is studied to determine the quantity of energy obtained from waste of known amount and composition. For a waste to become an energy system, the kinetic parameter of waste is one of the important characteristics that determine the energy obtainable from wastes. TGA has frequently been employed in the kinetic study of the thermal degradation of cellulosic materials. In this work, we have studied the thermo gravimetric analysis of paper cup waste at 25 °C/min, 30 °C/min in the air and 30 °C/min in the nitrogen atmosphere and determine the activation energy by using thermogravimetric curves. The Activation energy increases from 17 KJ/mol to 28 KJ/mol with increasing heating rate from 25 °C/min to 30 °C/min in the air atmosphere. Activation energy is less 22 KJ/mol in nitrogen atmosphere as compared to 28 KJ/mol in air atmosphere at a heating rate of 30 °C/min.