Characteristics and kinetics of cattle litter pyrolysis in a tubing reactor

The kinetic parameters for the pyrolysis of cattle litter were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The cattle litter was pyrolyzed in a tubing reactor at 340, 360 and 380°C with various retention times from 4 to 20 min. The influence of the pyrolysis conditions on the product yields was also examined. The maximum yields of gas and liquid products, 16.1 and 17.2 wt%, respectively, were obtained after pyrolysis at 380°C for 20 min. The gas products were mainly C₁-C₄ hydrocarbons. The experimental results of the product distribution were well fitted with the lumped kinetic model. The reaction pathway was investigated based on the calculated kinetic constants.