Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Evolved Gases from Catalytic Pyrolysis of Cassava Starch Residues

Abstract

By using the mass spectrometry technique, the catalytic effect of ferric sulfate onthe evolved gases of the pyrolysis of residues from the cassava starch industrywas studied. There were identified 31 m/e ratios in the evolved gases with enoughsignal to noise ratio. The presence (or absence) of m/e signals in the pyrolysisevolved gases with (or without) catalyst suggest a change in the product distribution caused by the catalytic activity of the ferric sulfate. These signals were fitted withthe DAEM using the kinetic parameters calculated from previousthermogravimetry data. As result, 90% of the m/e ratios presented a good fit. Thepoor description of the model for the rest of the signals could be attributed tosecondary reactions in the gas phase.