Biomass represents vast under-explored feedstock for energy generation across the globe. Among other factors, the location from where the feedstock is harvested may affect the overall properties and the efficiency of bioreactors used in the conversion process. Herein is reported some physicochemical properties, the kinetic study and thermodynamic analysis of corn cob sourced from two major economies in sub-Sahara African region. Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis was performed to investigate the surface characteristics of corn cob while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the corresponding functional group present in the selected biomass residue. The proximate and CHNSO analyses were performed using the standard equipment and following the standard procedures, then the result is reported and compared based on the geographical locations under consideration. Also, the thermal decomposition study was carried out at different heating rates (10, 15, 30 °C min⁻¹) in inert atmosphere while the kinetic parameters were evaluated based on Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) methods. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there is a statistically significant difference between ultimate constituents, the fixed carbon, and volatile matter obtained from the two countries at 95% confidence level. FTIR spectroscopy showed different spectra peak in both samples which means there are varying quantity of structural elements in each feedstock. The pore surface area (1.375 m²/g) obtained for corn cob from South Africa (SC25) was greater than the value (1.074 m²/g) obtained for Nigeria (NC25). From the result, the highest value of activation energy (E_a = 190.1 kJ mol⁻¹ and 189.9 kJ mol⁻¹) was estimated for SC25 based on KAS and FWO methods, respectively. The result showed that the geographical location may somewhat affect some energetic properties of biomass and further provides useful information about thermodynamic and kinetic parameters which could be deployed in the simulation, optimization, and scale-up of the bioreactors for pyrolysis process.

生物质代表了全球尚未充分开发的能源原料。除其他因素外，原料的收获地点可能会影响转化过程中使用的生物反应器的整体性能和效率。本文报道了来自撒哈拉以南非洲地区两个主要经济体的玉米芯的一些理化性质，动力学研究和热力学分析。进行Brunauer Emmett和Teller（BET）分析以研究玉米芯的表面特征，而傅立叶变换红外（FTIR）光谱揭示了所选生物质残基中存在的相应官能团。使用标准设备并按照标准程序进行近似分析和CHNSO分析，然后根据所考虑的地理位置报告结果并进行比较。同样，在不同的加热速率（10、15、30°C min^-1）在惰性气氛中，同时根据Flynn-Wall-Ozawa（FWO）和Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose（KAS）方法评估动力学参数。方差分析（ANOVA）显示，在95％的置信水平下，从两国获得的最终成分，固定碳和挥发性物质之间在统计学上存在显着差异。FTIR光谱显示两个样品的光谱峰不同，这意味着每种原料中结构元素的数量都不同。从南非（SC25）获得的玉米芯的孔表面积（1.375 m ² / g）大于从尼日利亚（NC25）获得的值（1.074 m ² / g）。结果表明，活化能的最大值（E _a  = 190.1 kJ mol分别基于KAS和FWO方法估算SC25的^-1和189.9 kJ mol ^-1）。结果表明地理位置可能会影响生物质的某些能量特性，并进一步提供有关热力学和动力学参数的有用信息，这些信息可用于热解过程中生物反应器的模拟，优化和放大。