THERMOGRAVIMETRIC AND FTIR ANALYZES OF CORN COB PYROLYSIS

Charcoal has a large share in the Brazilian market. The production is carried out by pyrolysis of biomass at different temperatures, between 300 and 500 °C. In this study, the corn cob pyrolysis was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Samples after pyrolysis were compared with raw biomass to evaluate changes in fuel characteristics. In DTG curves a reduction in the number of degradation peaks in the carbonized material was observed. The FTIR spectra allowed to identify the aromatic ring of the lignin in the charcoals structure, indicating the presence of this compound even in charcoals produced with a temperature of 500 °C. It can be concluded that the temperature of 400 °C was enough to completely degrade the hemicellulose and cellulose of the biomass, resulting the final product (charcoal) less reactive or thermally more resistant than the in natura corn cob.