Pyrolysis Kinetics and Thermodynamic Parameters of Macroalgae Cladophora Glomerata Based on Multi-Step Devolatilization Towards its Bioenergy Potential

Cladophora biomass has a great potential for utilization in bioenergy and biochar formation through pyrolysis. Here we performed the kinetic and thermodynamic evaluation of the slow pyrolysis of Cladophora golmerata in great detail. The pyrolysis was performed in the thermogravimetric analyzer using non-oxidative inert conditions of nitrogen gas at a temperature range of 25-800 °C at three low heating rates (5, 10 and 20 °C min−1). In the pyrolysis of C. glomerata, three different stages were observed, showing the complex nature of its biomass. The kinetics were obtained from the isoconversional methods, where the activation energy were in the range of 155.5-165.5 kJ mol−1, 221-239 kJ mol−1 and 157-168 kJ mol−1 with regression coefficient (R2) above 0.9. The heat of enthalpy values for the three stages were 155.360.15, 217.830.12 and 160.080.18 kJ mol−1 while the free energy values were 169.810.53, 179.90 0.91 and 273.423.13 kJ mol−1. The results showed that the slow pyrolysis of C. glomerata is an endothermic process and thermal energy is required initiate the degradation.