THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF YARD WASTE AS A FEEDSTOCK TO GASIFICATION PROCESS

Abstract

Gasification has great potential to make use of the biomass and wastes as a source for energy among various thermochemical conversion processes. The aim of this work is to study the suitability of yard waste for energy conversion using gasification process by Thermo gravimetric analysis. Yard waste (consisting of leaves, twigs and grass clippings) is collected from the National Institute of Technology Warangal. It is then dried and ground to a particle size of less than 250µm for thermo gravimetric study. Before going to thermo gravimetric analysis; the sample is analyzed to measure the main properties that affect thermal conversion. Moisture content present in the sample is determined by the oven drying method. Proximate is done according to standard ASTM test methods and ultimate analysis is conducted using elemental analyzer. Finally thermo gravimetric analyses is performed at various heating rates of 10, 30, and 50°Cmin-1 in nitrogen (inert) and air (oxidizing) atmospheres. The weight losses of yard waste in inert atmosphere occur in three stages and in air it occurs in four stages.