Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Thermal Decomposition Characteristics of Co-Pyrolysis of Municipality Solid Waste Residue Hydrochar and <1.5 G/cm3 Fraction of South African Discarded Fine Coal

The solid residues obtained after subjecting Municipality Solid Waste Residue (MSWR) to hydrothermal treatment were blended (50:50) with the <1.5 g/cm(3) density -separated fraction of discard coal. Co -pyrolysis experiments were conducted using a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) in a temperature range of 25( degrees)C to 900(degrees)C under N-2 atmosphere. The pyrolysis tar yields at 520(degrees)C were 17.5%, 35.1% and 26.3% for the coal, MSWR and blended samples, respectively. The pyrolysis char yields were 77.0%, 56.6% and 67.55% for the coal, MSWR and blended sample, respectively at 520(degrees)C, and the rest of the distribution contributed to the gas yields. The kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the samples were investigated by TGA using four heating rates (10,20,30, and 40( degrees)C/min). The TGA results were analysed using the model -free isoconversional Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Starink methods. The blended samples showed lower activation energies and higher Gibbs free energy values than coal and MSWR.