Pyrolysis of Cork Granules: Influence of Operating Variables on Char Yield

The main objective of this investigation was to experimentally study the influence of the particle size of the sample (250-1000 (m, 1000-1250 (m and 1250 - 2000 (m), maximum operating temperature (300 to 900 oC) and heating rate (10 to 25 oC.min-1) on the yield of the char produced after slow pyrolysis of gross high density cork granules. In addition, studies of the decomposition of cork samples using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were performed on the temperature range of 50 to 900 oC in an inert atmosphere. The pyrolysis experiments show that, for the conditions under study, particle size and heating rate had very little effect on the yield of the carbonaceous residue and that the yield decreased as the temperature was raised. The differential thermogravimetric curves obtained from the thermogravimetric analysis were shifted toward higher temperatures as the heating rate was increased.