Kinetic study of complex processes composed of non-independent stages: pyrolysis of natural rubber

In this work, it is proposed a method for studying kinetics of complex processes composed of non-independent stages. In this method, the variable contribution of the different stages as a function of the heating schedule is taken into account. The method involves the simultaneous kinetic analysis of a set of experimental data registered under linear heating rate conditions, without any previous assumptions regarding the kinetic models followed by the stages or their corresponding activation energies. The method has been tested with the kinetic analysis of the pyrolysis of natural rubber, since the kinetics of this process is complex and depends on temperature and heating schedule. It is demonstrated that the behavior of the experimental curves can be accurately predicted with the kinetic parameters calculated by the proposed methodology. The kinetic analysis presented here could be applied to other complex processes as those found in pyrolysis, without the need of using oversimplified kinetic models that could yield significant errors when used in real applications. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This work proposes a method for studying the kinetics of complex processes composed of non-independent stages, which can accurately predict the behavior of experimental curves and be applied to the kinetic analysis of other complex processes.