Alteration of physico-chemical characteristics of coconut endocarp — Acrocomia aculeata — by isothermal pyrolysis in the range 250–550 °C

Abstract : Characteristics of the endocarp of Acrocomia aculeata fruit samples were evaluated before and after 2 h of isothermal pyrolysis in the range 250-550 degrees C. Differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves from the char, obtained at 300 degrees C, confirm that degradation of hemicellulose and cellulose was complete and resulted in approximately 42.5% oxygen loss. The micrographs obtained from scanning electron microscopy with a field emission gun (SEM/FEG) confirmed a softened phase from the chars treated at 250 degrees C. The van Krevelen analysis shows that energy intensification of the sample transferred from peat to charcoal as the treatment intensity increased; this resulted in a 71% mass loss at 550 degrees C. The surface area of the treated sample increased exponentially with a factor of 1.2 per percentage of mass loss, from 450 degrees C and reached 216 m(2)/g at 550 degrees C as a consequence of the development of microporous structures. The water-vapor-sorption properties were strongly affected by the treatment, with a pronounced type V isotherm curve for the char at 550 degrees C. These results show the evolution in chemical and structural properties of coconut endocarp during its isothermal pyrolysis. In particular, the improved char properties indicate that this material may be used as solid fuel or as raw material for the gasification process.