An overview of distributed activation energy model and its application in the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

Research interest in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into energy and fuels through the pyrolysis process has increased significantly in the last decade as the necessity for a renewable source of carbon has become more evident. For optimal design of pyrolysis reactors, an understanding of the pyrolysis kinetics of lignocellulosic biomass is of fundamental importance. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) has been usually used to describe the pyrolysis kinetics of lignocellulosic biomass. In this review, we start with the derivation of the DAEM. After an overview of the activation energy distribution and frequency factor in the DAEM, we focus on the numerical calculation and parameter estimation methods of the DAEM. Finally, this review summarizes recent results published in the literature for the application of the DAEM to the pyrolysis kinetics of lignocellulosic biomass. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.