Empirical and mathematical modeling of waste devolatilization

RODRIGUEZ R., ECHEGARAY M., CASTRO M., PALACIOS C.,UDAQUIOLA S., HEKTOR K

Curitiva- Brasil

Congreso; COBEQ 2004 XV Congresso Brasileiro de Engenharia Química: A Engenharia Química e o Crescimento Sustentável; 2004

ABEQ (Asociación Brasilera de Ing. Qca.)- UFPR (Universidade Federal do Paraná) -UEM (Universidade Estadual de Maringá)

In order to study the waste devolatilization phenomenon, an experimental and theoretical work was carried out using an electrically heated reactor in nitrogen flow. A computer program was developed to register time, temperature, and wastes mass loss during the experiences. An experimental design was used to organize the experimentation using three values for the heating rate and two different compositions of wastes. The influence of these variables on the initial and final devolatilization temperatures, and their possible interaction was determined. Furthemore, a mathematical model was developed to predict loss mass of the wastes during devolatilization based on the main phenomena controlling the process. The model assumes a first order chemical reaction with an Arrhenius rate constant. The comparison of experimental data with the model calculations gives a good approximation. The exponential factor and activation energies have values which variation satisfy the values found for this kind of phenomenon.