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On the thermal degradation of cellulose in cotton fibers

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Abstract

Thermal decomposition of cellulose has been widely studied for the past several years. It has been reported that the source of cellulose and its composition greatly affect its pyrolysis. One of the most widely used analytical tools for the study of cellulose pyrolysis is thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Several model-fitting methods have been employed to study cellulose pyrolysis kinetics. An alternative to the model-fitting approach is the so-called model-free method developed by Vyazovkin. This isoconversional technique calculates the activation energy as a function of the degree of the conversion. In this article, the pyrolysis of cellulose in cotton fibers compared to microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel, PH 105) was investigated. TG curves were acquired as a function of the heating rates (4, 5, 8, 10, and 16 °C min−1) and the model-free method was used to analyze the data. Activation energies of cotton fibers and Avicel were obtained, and compared to the data reported in the literature. In addition, models for isothermal decomposition were calculated and compared with experimental data at the same temperature.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Texas Department of Agriculture, Food and Fibers Research Grant Program for providing financial support for this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Soil Science, Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 45019, Lubbock, TX, 79403, USA

    Luis Cabrales & Noureddine Abidi

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  1. Luis Cabrales
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  2. Noureddine Abidi
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Correspondence to Noureddine Abidi.

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Cabrales, L., Abidi, N. On the thermal degradation of cellulose in cotton fibers. J Therm Anal Calorim 102, 485–491 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-0911-9

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