Thick wood particle pyrolysis in an oxidative atmosphere

Oxidative pyrolysis of pine wood particles was analysed thermo-gravimetrically. The effects of the concentration of oxygen in the surrounding gas and of particle size were investigated. Three different oxygen concentrations (0%, 10% and 20% v/v) and three different sized cylindrical pine wood samples (4 mm, 8 mm and 12 mm in diameter and 15 mm long) were tested. Two types of Macro-TG apparatuses were used; the first was non-isothermal and was used at a heating rate of 20 °C/min, and the second was isothermal used at two temperatures, 400 °C and 600 °C. In the low heating rate non-isothermal apparatus, results showed that oxygen had a strong influence on pyrolysis behaviour, but particle size did not. In the high heating rate isothermal apparatus, particle size had a significant influence on conversion: transfer phenomena limit oxidative pyrolysis.