Assessing Hassawi Rice Straw as a Solid Biofuel: High Heating Rate Combustion Behaviour, Kinetics, and Thermodynamic Analysis

This study investigated the combustion behaviour of Hassawi rice straw (HRS) at industrially relevant high heating rates through a combination of detailed physicochemical characterisation and non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis. The biomass was characterised for proximate and ultimate composition, lignocellulosic fibre fractions (Van Soest method), and surface functional groups (FTIR). Thermogravimetric combustion experiments were conducted at heating rates of 20, 40, 60, and 80 K min⁻¹ under oxidative conditions. The results demonstrate that HRS is a promising renewable solid biofuel, with high volatile matter content (72.48 wt%), moderate ash (10.27 wt%), and a higher heating value of 16.04 MJ kg⁻¹. Ultimate analysis revealed low nitrogen (0.67 wt%) and sulphur (0.31 wt%) levels, indicating low potential for NOx and SOx emissions. Thermal decomposition proceeded through three distinct stages, with the main devolatilisation phase occurring between 515 and 680 K due to the breakdown of hemicellulose and cellulose. Kinetic evaluation using six model-free isoconversional methods (FR, FWO, KAS, STK, K, and VY) together with the Coats–Redfern model-fitting approach yielded an average apparent activation energy of 139 kJ mol⁻¹, with the three-dimensional diffusion (D3) model providing the best fit mechanism to the experimental data. Thermodynamic analysis showed positive ΔH and ΔG values with predominantly negative ΔS, confirming the endothermic and non-spontaneous character of the process. These findings offer valuable kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the design of efficient combustion systems utilising Hassawi rice straw as a sustainable biofuel in arid regions.