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Abstract The thermal decomposition kinetics of two energy crops Miscanthus x giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita biomass materials harvested from a phytoremediation study in Polish and Germany have been studied, assuming a three-pseudocomponent model. The kinetic parameters extracted from the study are realistic and within reasonable ranges. The activation energies are within 20 - 103.55 kJ/mol. The reaction orders are within 1.01-1.99. The result shows that the energy crops from the Polish site exhibited higher conversion rates than the samples from Germany. A negative effect of the ash content on the biomass reactivity is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass obtained from phytoremediation energy crops Miscanthus x giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita planted on different soils contaminated with heavy metals was thermogravimetrically studied and kinetically analyzed, assuming a three-pseudocomponent model. The results showed that Miscanthus x giganteus was able to uptake more heavy metals than Sida hermaphrodita. Soil influences on the fuel and thermal properties the crops were observed. The ash content of the biomass exhibited a negative effect on its reactivity. The extracted kinetic data are realistic and within reasonable ranges. The activation energies are within 20–103.55 kJ mol−1. The reaction orders are within 1.01–1.99. • First study on pyrolysis kinetics of biomass from phytoremediation energy crops. • Soil pH value and metal content had effect on the fuel properties of energy crops. • Positive and negative effects of the ash content on the biomass reactivity are observed. • The activation energies are within 20–103.55 kJ mol−1. • The reaction orders are within 1.01–1.99. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]