Application of TGA-MS measurements for evolved gas analysis during pyrolysis process of various biomass

Abstract

This work provides a novel methodology for the comprehensive evolved gas analysis performed on a lab scale level during the biomass thermal degradation experimental tests. TGA – MS coupling allows accurate correlation between molecular ion peak and fragment peaks to the corresponding mass loss rates from DTG curves. Within the proposed semiquantitative analysis, MS spectra were interpreted through the comparative analysis of compound fragments and of the compound itself, where the single atomic mass unit was identified by multiple compounds exhibition [1]. It was shown that by this procedure which involves overlapping multiple curves supervising, the identification of gases in the volatiles complex scheme becomes more simplified. The simplified scheme for the proposed methodology with major steps necessary to be performed is presented in Figure 1. By setting up semi-quantitative formulas, easy and reliable calculations of gaseous products yield and syngas energy capacities are possible to achieve. The obtained results by proposed methodology for wheat straw sample is given in Table 1.