Modeling biomass hydrothermal carbonization by the maximum information entropy criterion. Issue 5 (1st April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gallifuoco, Alberto; Papa, Alessandro Antonio; Taglieri, Luca
• Is Part Of: Reaction chemistry & engineering. Volume 6:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 920
• Page End: 928
• Publication Date: 2021-04-01
• Subjects: Reaction mechanisms (Chemistry) -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering; Reaction mechanisms (Chemistry); Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/d1re00002k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2058-9883

Abstract

Abstract : The kinetics of biomass hydrothermal carbonization is modeled by the MaxEnt principle, without assuming a reaction network. Modeling is in good accordance with the experimental data concerning a broad range of biomass and reaction conditions. Abstract : This paper demonstrates an innovation in the kinetic modeling of biomass hydrothermal carbonization based on stochastic techniques. The dynamics of HTC solid-phase transformations is described without assuming a reaction network. Through the maximum-entropy principle, an equation, which fits data flexibly, rises to the status of a lumped kinetic model. The time-course of biomass conversion is described as the macroscopic effect of microreactions, whose frequency is distributed as a continuous probability density function. The mathematics which defines the density function takes advantage of the identified analogies with other scientific fields. The corresponding cumulative frequency distribution is shown to coincide with the empirical fitting equation. The analysis of a wide range of literature data, concerning various waste biomasses, allows testing the new model. The good accordance between previsions and experimental evidence encourages the research to follow this way. Sound procedures for further validating the model are outlined.