Synergistic Effect of Co‐Pyrolysis of Biomass and Disposable Face Mask Waste on Energy Efficiency: Experimental Modeling for Energetic Characteristics

Tamilarasan Nallaselvam; Balaji Kalaiarasu; Sakthivel Rajamohan; Nadir Ayrilmis; S. Joseph John Marshal

doi:10.1111/gcbb.70109

journal article Open Access Mar 22, 2026

Synergistic Effect of Co‐Pyrolysis of Biomass and Disposable Face Mask Waste on Energy Efficiency: Experimental Modeling for Energetic Characteristics

Tamilarasan Nallaselvam

Balaji Kalaiarasu

Sakthivel Rajamohan Nadir Ayrilmis

S. Joseph John Marshal

GCB Bioenergy Vol. 18 No. 4 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/gcbb.70109

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The rapid accumulation of post‐consumer plastic waste, particularly polypropylene‐based waste face masks (FMW), alongside underutilized agro‐industrial residues such as

Moringa oleifera

(MO) seedcake, presents a significant environmental challenge and an opportunity for thermochemical valorization. This study presents a non‐isothermal thermogravimetric investigation of the pyrolysis and co‐pyrolysis behavior of MO, FMW, and their 1:1 mass blend under nitrogen atmosphere at heating rates of 5°C, 10°C, and 15°C min
−1
over a temperature range of 30°C–700°C. Model‐free iso‐conversional kinetic approaches (KAS, OFW, Friedman, and Starink) along with the Kissinger method were employed to evaluate the apparent activation energy (
E
a
) and pre‐exponential factor (A) as functions of conversion. The co‐pyrolysis system exhibited a statistically significant reduction in activation energy relative to mass‐weighted predictions, confirming synergistic kinetic interactions between the lignocellulosic biomass and polypropylene matrix. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS, ΔG), derived consistently from the kinetic data, indicated that pyrolysis and co‐pyrolysis were endothermic and non‐spontaneous processes, requiring continuous external energy input. Nevertheless, the MO–FMW blend showed lower Gibbs free energy barriers than individual feedstocks, reflecting reduced thermodynamic resistance during decomposition. This study established a foundational kinetic–thermodynamic framework for MO–FMW co‐pyrolysis and provided the essential parameters for reactor design and subsequent product‐oriented pyrolysis studies.

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Details

Published: Mar 22, 2026
Vol/Issue: 18(4)
License: View

Authors

T

Tamilarasan Nallaselvam

Department of Mechanical Engineering Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore India

B

Balaji Kalaiarasu

Department of Mechanical Engineering Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore India

S

Sakthivel Rajamohan

Department of Mechanical Engineering Government College of Technology Coimbatore India

N

Nadir Ayrilmis

Department of Wood Mechanics and Technology, Faculty of Forestry Istanbul University‐Cerrahpasa Istanbul Turkey

S

S. Joseph John Marshal

Division of Mechanical Engineering Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Coimbatore India

Cite This Article

Tamilarasan Nallaselvam, Balaji Kalaiarasu, Sakthivel Rajamohan, et al. (2026). Synergistic Effect of Co‐Pyrolysis of Biomass and Disposable Face Mask Waste on Energy Efficiency: Experimental Modeling for Energetic Characteristics. GCB Bioenergy, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70109

Synergistic Effect of Co‐Pyrolysis of Biomass and Disposable Face Mask Waste on Energy Efficiency: Experimental Modeling for Energetic Characteristics

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