Exploring synergistic interactions in biomass and plastic co-pyrolysis for energy and recycling
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Data
2025-11-25
Autores
Cupertino, Gabriela Fontes Mayrinck
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Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
Resumo
The co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and plastics, including residues derived from diverse production chains, represents a promising and environmentally relevant pathway for the sustainable generation of biofuels and value-added chemicals. The overall efficiency of this process depends on a comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical interactions between the feedstocks and the optimization of operating parameters to enhance thermal conversion and improve the quality and yield of the resulting products. In this study, the synergistic interactions between biomass and different types of plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP), were investigated through thermogravimetric analysis, focusing on the parameters that influence thermal decomposition and bioproduct formation. These polymers were selected because they are among the most widespread single-use plastics, typically discarded immediately after consumption, and therefore constitute a major environmental concern. Mixtures of biomass and plastic materials in a 3:1 mass ratio were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) up to 800 °C under different heating rates (4, 20, and 100 °C·min¹) to evaluate mass loss kinetics and the derivative of the residual mass (DRM). Based on these data, a synergy assessment was performed by calculating the synergy index for each biomass and plastic blend at the three heating rates. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted on the char obtained from the co-pyrolysis of biomass and PET to gain further insight into the structural effects associated with synergistic mechanisms during thermal degradation. The results revealed that biomass degradation occurs in three main stages, strongly influenced by the heating rate, while PET, LDPE, and PP display distinct decomposition behaviors. The co-pyrolysis of PET with biomass facilitated the release of volatiles and decreased the degradation temperature, indicating a positive synergistic effect. Conversely, LDPE and PP presented more limited interactions, exhibiting four degradation stages with a marked dependence on heating rate, and PP demonstrated negative synergy at higher heating rates. SEM images of the char produced from biomass and PET mixtures showed evidence of an encapsulation process, suggesting the formation of dense carbonaceous layers that may reduce porosity and alter surface morphology. Overall, these findings highlight the complexity of the thermal reactions involved in biomass and plastic co-pyrolysis and provide valuable insights for optimizing waste conversion processes. The outcomes contribute to the development of cleaner thermochemical technologies capable of transforming abundant waste streams into renewable energy carriers and sustainable chemical products.
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Degradação térmica , Taxa de aquecimento , Formação de carvão , Modelagem preditiva , Conversão energética renovável