Pyrolysis of tea and coffee wastes: effect of physicochemical properties on kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics

Physicochemical properties, kinetic pyrolysis and thermodynamic study of spent green tea, pure spent coffee grounds, spent coffee grounds blended with 50% torrefied barley and coffee husk were experimentally investigated using thermogravimetric analysis under an inert atmosphere to evaluate their thermochemical application. Five isoconversional methods were applied to determine effective activation energy (E(a)) of the pyrolysis processes. All methods showed good agreement by determining fluctuating E(a) values (150–500 kJ mol(−1)). Complex E(a) profiles with conversion were divided into four stages corresponding to thermal degradation of main biomass constituents (extractives, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin), indicating that extractives decomposition was the least demanding reaction while lignin decomposition was the most demanding. The kinetic process was verified by reconstruction according to the Friedman parameters. The thermodynamic parameters were evaluated to determine the energy demand and efficiency throughout the process. The values obtained for physicochemical properties such as volatile matter (> 68%) and higher heating value (> 17 MJ kg(−1)), average E(a) (223–319 kJ mol(−1)) and significant energy efficiency implied that these types of biomass waste have significant reactivity and consequently the highest potential for the production of bioenergy and a range of high-value chemicals and materials. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10973-022-11878-4.