article · Journal of Natural Fibers
This research evaluates the pyrolysis behaviour, kinetics, and thermodynamic properties of Dracaena draco fibres, an agricultural waste found in subtropical regions such as Algeria and the Canary Islands. Thermal analysis under nitrogen from room temperature up to 800 degrees Celsius showed that the fibres have a low ash content of 2.10 percent, a high volatile matter content of 77.29 percent, and a lignin level of 26.78 percent with a higher heating value of 19.95 megajoules per kilogramme. These characteristics help avoid slagging problems and support high bio-oil yields. A four-parallel Gaussian kinetic model integrating drying alongside pseudo-hemicellulose, pseudo-cellulose, and pseudo-lignin was applied, outperforming traditional three-component models. The apparent activation energies confirmed strong thermal stability during lignin charring compared to other biomasses such as agave.
Finding efficient renewable energy sources requires identifying agricultural wastes that burn cleanly and predictably. This investigation provides the precise thermal and chemical data required to model and design conversion systems for Dracaena draco residues. Its high energy density and low ash formation make it a clean, attractive feedstock for bio-oil generation and thermal energy production compared to traditional crop residues.
The findings are relevant for biofuel developers and operators of thermochemical biomass conversion plants seeking alternative feedstocks with reduced slagging risks and bio-oil yields exceeding 50 percent. This is early-stage research focused on kinetic and thermochemical characterisation. Real-world adoption will require further pilot testing in operational pyrolysis reactors to confirm scale-up performance and actual product yields beyond laboratory-scale thermal analysis.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
This study examines the pyrolysis behavior, kinetic parameters, and thermodynamic features of Dracaena draco fibers (DdFs), an underutilized subtropical agro-waste from areas such as Algeria and the Canary Islands. With a low ash content (2.10%, reducing slagging issues compared to rice husk’s ~ 15%), high volatile matter (77.29%, favoring bio-oil yields > 50%), and elevated lignin (26.78%, enhancing energy density with HHV 19.95 MJ/kg), DdFs offer unique advantages over other biomasses that have been extensively studied, like rice husk or sugarcane bagasse. Using thermogravimetric analysis, samples werea pyrolyzed in a nitrogen environment at heating rates ranging from ambient to 800°C at rates of 5–30 °C/min. By better resolving early-stage drying effects, a novel four-parallel Gaussian kinetic model that incorporates pseudo-drying (PO-D) along with pseudo-hemicellulose (PO-H), pseudo-cellulose (PO-C), and pseudo-lignin (PO-L) accurately describes decomposition with R2 > 0.99, RMSE < 0.05, and χ2 < 0.01. This model outperforms conventional three-component models. The mean apparent activation energies of 146.93 kJ/mol (PO-H), 127.76 kJ/mol (PO-C), and 173.94 kJ/mol (PO-L) obtained using model-free isoconversional methods (Starink, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall) show better thermal stability for lignin charring than agave (PO-L ~ 106 kJ/mol).
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2025.2565658
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
