Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of thermally treated globe artichoke leaves

There are no data in the literature on the energy valorization of globe artichoke (GA) leaves. Thus, an extensive lab-scale experimental torrefaction, carbonization, and coking study was performed. Operative temperatures of 200 °C-1000 °C with 30-120 min residence times were considered. Nonisothermal thermogravimetric analysis was performed at 10, 20, and 40 °C/min heating rates. Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of raw and thermally treated samples using the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) isoconversional method were investigated. All samples exhibited three-stage thermal decomposition behavior: first, moisture and light volatiles evolution common under air and nitrogen; second, carbohydrate fraction decomposition under nitrogen and volatiles combustion; third, lignin decomposition under nitrogen and char combustion. Average activation energy ranges are 54-223 kJ/mol and 223-503 kJ/mol for combustion and pyrolysis, respectively. Some irregular trends appeared when carbonization exceeded 500 °C due to the occurrence of secondary reactions between residual char and evolved gas and the decomposition of some ash components at temperatures reaching 1000 °C. Negative temperature kinetic coefficient appeared at 800-1000 °C as the temperature approached ash softening/fusing temperatures. SEM images indicated amorphous nature and increased porosity from 600 °C, which explains the pyrolysis and oxidation behavior observed in biochar samples produced over this range. Samples pyrolyzed for 30 min showed better elemental and energy results compared to longer times.