Thermal degradation behavior of Photinia × fraseri Dress leaves based on TG-FTIR and main components separation by SCE optimization

Photinia × Fraseri Dress (PFD) is widely distributed shrub in subtropical and temperate regions while few researches have been done on the energy utilization of its leaves. In this study, the thermal degradation behavior and gaseous products of PFD leaves were analyzed based on TG-FTIR technology. Calculations of enthalpy change, Gibbs free energy change and entropy change were carried out according to the activation energy estimated by model-free methods. The K-K method was adopted to compute the initial kinetic parameters of three basic components: hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, and provide the parameter search range for a global optimal approach-Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE). More important, SCE was further applied to separate the DTG curves of three components from the total curve and then to explore their isolated pyrolysis characteristics. Eventually, the major gaseous components (CO₂, CO, CH₄, phenols, aldehydes, etc.) were confirmed, and their production according to separated hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were comparatively analyzed.