Study on biofuel efficiency of tropical banana leaf biomass using spectroscopy, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters

Bio-oils and biochar are some of the valuable products, which are usually harnessed through the pyrolysis process. Under the current investigation, three popular edible banana species were subjected to the pyrolysis process in order to decipher their bioenergy potential. Thermo-gravimetric analysis was utilized to determine the kinetic parameters. The levels of Eα were estimated to be 206 kJ/mol for Musa acuminata, 179 kJ/mol Musa chinichampa and 180 kJ/mol for Musa paradisiaca. Values of A in the range of 1012–1015 s−1, 1012–1015 s−1,1013–1015 s-1, and 1013–1015 s−1 were observed under FWO, KAS, Starink, and Tang model, respectively. From the master plot analysis, it was observed that the reaction mechanism involved in the thermal decay of major cell wall polymers was quite complex and followed a multi-step reaction mechanism. Analysis of the thermodynamic parameters, validated the endothermic nature of pyrolysis. Overall, combined with the different physical and chemical characteristics, it is observed that the leaf biomass of tropical banana species Musa chinichampa is a better feed stock for bioenergy production.