Estudo da viabilidade da conversão térmica de resíduos de fibra de média densidade (MDF)

Abstract

Waste Medium density fiberboard (MDF) are generated daily by various sectors, among them stands the furniture sector. Utilization of the MDF waste through thermal conversion can be an alternative to its final disposition. Pyrolysis is one of the most promising technologies for thermal conversion, generating value added products, differentiates it from other renewable energy sources. The products from the pyrolysis process are: char, bio-oil and combustible gases, which have good heating value, with many applications in both chemical industry and in power generation. Knowledge of kinetics was very important in the implementation of the pyrolysis process on a pilot scale reactor by batch. The kinetics of thermal degradation of MDF was evaluated in non- isothermal conditions by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) in an inert atmosphere (N2), and artificial air (a mixture of N2 and O2). These analyzes were performed with samples of particle diameter less than 0.21 mm and initial mass of 10 mg. For N2 thermogravimetric analysis were used the following heating rate: 5, 10 , 15, 25, 50 , 75 and 100 °Cmin-1, while the artificial tests were conducted with air at a heating rate of 25 °Cmin-1. The experiments on inert atmosphere showed that themain MDF weight loss region occurred between 200 °C and 500 °C, the activation energy ranging from 137 to 152 kJmol-1 , and the pre-exponential factor from 21010 to 51011 min-1. The experiments on artificial air indicated that MDF degradation occurred in three distinct regions: the first ranging from room temperature to 200 °C , the second 200 to 330 °C and finally the third between 350 and 500 °C. However, was in the second region that there was the main mass loss, and the activation energy ranging from 149 to 179 kJ mol-1 and pre-exponential factor of 2.71015 to 3.81016 min- 1. In the third region the activation energy ranged from 144.9 to 155.9 kJmol-1 and pre-exponential factor from 1.3109 to 2.61011 min- 1. The kinetic parameters were determined by non- isoconversionals methods: Coats - Redfern, MacCallum - Tanner, and Van Krevelen. The MDF was characterized by the concentration of metals, minerals, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, phenol content, by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis, proximate analysis and heating value . The pyrolysis of MDF was evaluated in a pilot scale reactor by batch with screw conveyor at different heating rates in order to characterize and quantify the products from the pyrolysis process. The char yield ranged between 18.6 and 34.3 (% mass), the of bio-oil yield ranged between 22.9 and 30.2 (% mass ) and of fuel gas yield from 37.3 to 58.6 (% mass). The characterization of the products generated in the pyrolysis process was performed by SEM, FTIR, elemental analysis, proximate analysis, heating value and gas chromatography. An estimate of the overall energy yield of the pyrolysis system used operating at 600 °C indicated a value of 21.8. The energy yield of each one of the reaction products compared to the heating value of the MDF wastes pyrolysed were also estimated: 44.8% in the fuel gas produced; 33.5% in the char produced.