Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the pyrolysis characteristics of switchgrass using TGA-FTIR instrument. Switchgrass is a high yielding perennial grass that has been designated as a potential energy crop, because of its high energy value. Ground switchgrass were pyrolysed at different heating rates of 10, 20, 30, and $40^{\circ}C/min$ in a TGA-FTIR instrument. The thermal decomposition characteristics of switchgrass were analyzed, and the gases volatilized during the experiment were identified. The thermal decomposition of switchgrass started at approximately $220^{\circ}C$, followed by a major loss of weight, where the main volatilization occurred, and the thermal decomposition was essentially completed by $430^{\circ}C$. The pyrolysis process was found to compose of four stages; moisture evaporation, hemicellulose decomposition, cellulose decomposition, and lignin degradation. The peak temperatures for hemicellulose decomposition ($306^{\circ}C$ to $327^{\circ}C$) and cellulose decomposition ($351^{\circ}C$ to $369^{\circ}C$) were increased with greater heating rates. FTIR analysis showed that the following gases were released during the pyrolysis of switchgrass; $CO_2$, CO, $CH_4$, $NH_3$, COS, $C_{2}H_{4}$, and some acetic acid. The most gas species were released at low temperature from 310 to $380^{\circ}C$, which was corresponding well with the observation of thermal decomposition.
