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Pyrolysis kinetics and thermal characteristics of rice husk-derived bioplastic films
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9753-3684
KTH, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Fibre- and Polymer Technology, Polymer Technology. KTH, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Centres, Wallenberg Wood Science Center.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2477-6896
Africa Center of Excellence in Materials, Product Development and Nanotechnology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
2026 (English)In: Polymer international, ISSN 0959-8103, E-ISSN 1097-0126Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Bioplastics are increasingly being used for packaging applications, leading to the generation of a complex fraction of waste at their end of life. Pyrolysis treatment is one potential technique that can be used to convert bioplastic waste into fuel and energy. Here, pyrolysis of alkaline-treated K85 rice husk-derived bioplastic films was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at different heating rates (10, 20 and 30 K min−1). The influence of different ratios of succinylation and trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether-induced crosslinking on the combustion as well as the kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics were evaluated. Model-free methods (Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW), Starink and Tang) were used to develop the kinetic model of pyrolysis of the bioplastic films. Differential scanning calorimetry showed glass transitions at around 25 °C, where the films passed from a rigid glassy state to a rubbery solid state. TGA results showed that the main decomposition of the bioplastic films happened in the range of 340.0–416.5 °C, while the kinetic models indicated that the average activation energies for the samples were estimated at 142.3–228.3 kJ mol−1 (KAS), 145.0–232.3 kJ mol−1 (OFW), 142.6–288.5 kJ mol−1 (Starink) and 135.8–217.5 kJ mol−1 (Tang). Due to the low energy barrier between activation energy and enthalpy (≤5.7 kJ mol−1), the reaction initiation of the films occurs easily. In conclusion, the results support the suitability of pyrolysis as an effective end-of-life management option for rice husk-derived bioplastic films, directly supporting circular economy goals for biobased materials. The kinetic parameters, validated across four independent models, provide a quantitative foundation for the design and optimization of industrial-scale pyrolysis reactors targeting bioplastic packaging waste streams.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wiley , 2026.
Keywords [en]
bioplastic films, kinetics, pyrolysis, rice husks, thermogravimetric analysis
National Category
Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-384796DOI: 10.1002/pi.70160ISI: 001799964100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105042595853OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-384796DiVA, id: diva2:2084128
Note

QC 20260703

Available from: 2026-07-03 Created: 2026-07-03 Last updated: 2026-07-03Bibliographically approved

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Subramaniyan, Sathiyaraj

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