Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis

A comprehensive understanding of the pyrolysis mechanism of tobacco industry waste (TIW) is crucial for its efficient utilisation and environmental pollution reduction. In this study, the pyrolysis behaviour of TIW was systematically investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), asymmetric pea...

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Main Authors: Xing Fan, Boyu Li, Yu Xi, Junping Bian, Wenhua Zi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025014471
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author Xing Fan
Boyu Li
Yu Xi
Junping Bian
Wenhua Zi
author_facet Xing Fan
Boyu Li
Yu Xi
Junping Bian
Wenhua Zi
author_sort Xing Fan
collection DOAJ
description A comprehensive understanding of the pyrolysis mechanism of tobacco industry waste (TIW) is crucial for its efficient utilisation and environmental pollution reduction. In this study, the pyrolysis behaviour of TIW was systematically investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), asymmetric peak deconvolution, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The kinetics of the devolatilisation stage were determined using isoconversional methods, and the potential of TIW as a bio-based chemical feedstock was evaluated. The results revealed that the devolatilisation of TIW primarily occurred between 120 and 600 °C. The apparent activation energy (Eα) of tobacco stems (TS) and tobacco leaves (TL) increased with conversion degree(α), whereas the Eα of reconstituted tobacco sheets (RTS) first increased and then decreased as the α increased. The average apparent activation energy(E0) values were RTS (207.18 kJ•mol−1) ≈ TS (206.58 kJ•mol−1) > TL (172.28 kJ•mol−1). The devolatilisation stage of TIW was divided into four sub-stages: namely volatile substances breakdown, hemicellulose and pectin and nicotine breakdown, cellulose decomposition, and lignin breakdown. The E0 values for the four pyrolysis sub-stages were as follows: 126.59, 236.68, 198.09, and 241.90 kJ•mol−1 for TS; 114.67, 103.05, 97.90, and 120.08 kJ•mol−1 for TL; 155.26, 192.28, 176.07, and 283.91 kJ•mol−1 for RTS. The pyrolysis reaction followed a multi-step mechanism involving diffusion, geometrical contraction, and reaction order models. TIW was found to have high economic value, producing valuable chemicals such as furfural, nicotine, and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde. This study provides theoretical guidance for optimising TIW pyrolysis processes and supports the development of biorefinery technologies based on biomass resources.
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spelling doaj-art-80fc751527a64376ba4e1ef5172f7fae2025-08-20T02:30:14ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-06-012610537710.1016/j.rineng.2025.105377Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysisXing Fan0Boyu Li1Yu Xi2Junping Bian3Wenhua Zi4Faculty of Energy and Environment Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, PR ChinaFaculty of Energy and Environment Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, PR China; Yunnan Water Resources and Hydropower Vocational College, Kunming 650499, PR ChinaFaculty of Energy and Environment Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, PR ChinaFaculty of Energy and Environment Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, PR China; Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, 650091, PR ChinaFaculty of Energy and Environment Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology and Preparation for Renewable Energy Materials, Education Ministry, Kunming, 650500, PR China; Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, 650091, PR China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Rural Energy Engineering, Kunming 650500, PR China; Corresponding author.A comprehensive understanding of the pyrolysis mechanism of tobacco industry waste (TIW) is crucial for its efficient utilisation and environmental pollution reduction. In this study, the pyrolysis behaviour of TIW was systematically investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), asymmetric peak deconvolution, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The kinetics of the devolatilisation stage were determined using isoconversional methods, and the potential of TIW as a bio-based chemical feedstock was evaluated. The results revealed that the devolatilisation of TIW primarily occurred between 120 and 600 °C. The apparent activation energy (Eα) of tobacco stems (TS) and tobacco leaves (TL) increased with conversion degree(α), whereas the Eα of reconstituted tobacco sheets (RTS) first increased and then decreased as the α increased. The average apparent activation energy(E0) values were RTS (207.18 kJ•mol−1) ≈ TS (206.58 kJ•mol−1) > TL (172.28 kJ•mol−1). The devolatilisation stage of TIW was divided into four sub-stages: namely volatile substances breakdown, hemicellulose and pectin and nicotine breakdown, cellulose decomposition, and lignin breakdown. The E0 values for the four pyrolysis sub-stages were as follows: 126.59, 236.68, 198.09, and 241.90 kJ•mol−1 for TS; 114.67, 103.05, 97.90, and 120.08 kJ•mol−1 for TL; 155.26, 192.28, 176.07, and 283.91 kJ•mol−1 for RTS. The pyrolysis reaction followed a multi-step mechanism involving diffusion, geometrical contraction, and reaction order models. TIW was found to have high economic value, producing valuable chemicals such as furfural, nicotine, and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde. This study provides theoretical guidance for optimising TIW pyrolysis processes and supports the development of biorefinery technologies based on biomass resources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025014471Tobacco industry wastePyrolysisKineticsBio-based chemicalsPyrolysis mechanism
spellingShingle Xing Fan
Boyu Li
Yu Xi
Junping Bian
Wenhua Zi
Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
Results in Engineering
Tobacco industry waste
Pyrolysis
Kinetics
Bio-based chemicals
Pyrolysis mechanism
title Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
title_full Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
title_fullStr Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
title_full_unstemmed Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
title_short Novel insights into the kinetics, bio-based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
title_sort novel insights into the kinetics bio based chemicals and mechanisms for tobacco industry waste pyrolysis
topic Tobacco industry waste
Pyrolysis
Kinetics
Bio-based chemicals
Pyrolysis mechanism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025014471
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