Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of Sida cordifolia L. using thermogravimetric analysis.

Sida cordifolia L. (Sida) is an annual invasive plant that remains underutilized in Niger. The goal of this study was to characterize the thermal decomposition of Sida for its valorisation as a source of energy through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA was carried out under nitrogen and air atmospheres. Thus, five different heating rates were used as 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 °C min-1. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were determined by isoconversional models of Kissenger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO). The results showed that the average activation energy (Ea) of Sida calculated by KAS and FWO in pyrolysis was found to be 74.74 and 80.74 kJ mol-1 respectively, while it was 51.08 and 58.91 kJ mol-1 in combustion respectively. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters such as Ea, ΔH, ΔS, and ΔG obtained by KAS and FWO show that Sida is a remarkable feedstock for bioenergy.