Assessment of pyrolysis polygeneration of biomass based on major components: Product characterization and elucidation of degradation pathways

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2013-11, Vol.113, p.266-273
• Main Authors: Xin, Shanzhi, Yang, Haiping, Chen, Yingquan, Wang, Xianhua, Chen, Hanping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkylated derivates; Anhydro saccharides; Applied sciences; Biomass; Biomass major components; Cellulose; Combustion; Degradation; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Natural energy; Pathways; Phenols; Polygeneration; Polymerization; Pyrolysis; Saccharides
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2013.05.061

•The cleavage of glycosidic bond was the first step for cellulose and xylan pyrolysis.•Furans were produced accompanied by the formation of anhydro saccharides.•The surface of cellulose formed a melted phase at low temperature.•The depolymerization and dealkylation were the primary reactions during lignin pyrolysis.•For the biomass polygeneration system, it is not suggested to pyrolyze over 750°C. The pyrolysis behaviors of biomass components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) were studied at various temperatures and the evolution mechanisms of the pyrolytic products were investigated with variant approaches. Anhydro-saccharides, light oxygenates and phenols were the main compounds in pyrolytic bio-oil from cellulose, xylan and lignin, respectively. The subsequent degradation of saccharides involved was the fragmentation to generate gaseous and light oxygenates, and these compounds formed competitively against the generation of phenols and aromatics. CO released from cellulose originated from the decomposition of saccharides while that from xylan was more likely to derive from the decarbonylation of ketones and decarboxylation of acids. H2, CH4 and light hydrocarbons formed during aromatization when exceeded 650°C. Cellulose was the main contributor to the porosity of biomass chars and lignin was the main contributor for the mass of biomass chars. Furthermore, a new pathway for the pyrolysis of biomass and insights into how biomass materials used more efficiently and comprehensively, were provided.