Determination of pyrolysis properties of Sirnak asphaltite by thermal analysis method

In this thesis, pyrolysis properties of Sırnak-Avgamasya asphaltite were determined by thermal analysis methods. For this purpose, approximately 25 kg sample was obtained from the region and proximate and elemental analysis of the representative sample which crushed -2360 mm were done. According to results, airdried sample contains 0.40% moisture, 47.28% ash, 34.30% volatile matter, 18.02% fixed carbon, 42.1% C, 3.57% H, 0.50% N, 5.55% S and 47.88% O by weight. Also, for the characterization of the representative sample XRD and FTIR analysis were obtained. For the determination of pyrolysis properties of the sample, DTA and TGA of thermal analysis methods were used. DTA and TGA experiments were carried out by using approximately 10 mg sample, under 50 ml/min nitrogen gas flow rate, from ambient to 900°C temperature range. In order to investigate the effects of particle size and heating rate on pyrolysis properties, TGA experiments were carried out by using 3 different particle size fractions and 5 different heating rates. Peak temperatures and amounts of mass losses were determined by the data obtained from the experiments. By examining the TG/DTG thermograms, 3 different temperature regions were found which depends on moisture loss, volatile release and mineral matter decomposition. In addition, by using TG/DTG data of the samples, apparent activation energies and Arrhenius constants were calculated by Arrhenius and Coats-Redfern kinetic models and the results were compared with each other. KEY WORDS: Asphaltite, thermal analysis, pyrolysis, TGA, DTA, kinetic analysis