Analysis of thermal degradation of banana (Musa balbisiana) trunk biomass waste using iso-conversional models.

The thermo-chemical characterization (proximate and ultimate analyses and higher heating value) of banana trunk biomass waste has been carried out. The thermo-gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) investigations have been made at heating rates of 10, 15, 20 and 25 °C/min. The TGA data have been used to carry out kinetic analysis and evaluate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters using iso-conversional models. The values of activation energy increase with conversion (α) irrespective of the iso-conversional model used. The average values of activation energies (Eα) are found to be 386.21, 355.43, 385.77, 355.01, 379.67, and 292.78 kJ/mol for Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Starink, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Tang, Vyzovkin and Vyzovkin AIC model, respectively. The average values of change in enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy have been calculated. The reaction mechanisms of pyrolysis have been predicted using Criado's method.