Comparative study of the thermal degradation of angico gum via three non-isothermal methods

Gums and hydrocolloids are two typical biomass wastes commonly found in the most tropical countries. However, despite their enormous potential as energy sources, they are understudied, and their thermal characteristics are still not well known. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal degradation of angico gum. Gum degradation was studied using non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis and performed under three heating rates ( β ) constant (5, 15, and 25 °C min −1 ) in a nitrogen atmosphere. The thermogravimetric curves were used in the kinetic analysis through the methods of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger, and Coats–Redfern adjustment for the solid-phase reaction mechanism. The FWO method showed stability in the activation energy in the range of a greater mass loss of the gum. The linear regression coefficients were above 0.9 for the FWO and Coats–Redfern methods. In addition, four reaction mechanisms were tested in the Coats–Redfern method and the first-order chemical reaction mechanism showed the best linear regression coefficient. Comparing the literature, angico gum activation energies seems to be close to of cashew tree gum, xanthan, and guar gum. The results obtained in this study can be useful for the development of new composites based on angico gum. Graphical abstract