Mechanism study of wood lignin pyrolysis by using TG-FTIR analysis

In order to study the pyrolysis mechanism of lignin, Van Soest's method was performed to extract lignin from different species of biomass. Fir and birch lignins were selected as the testing samples and corresponding microstructure was studied by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Several characteristic bands were observed to show the presence and species of lignin. Following experimental research on pyrolysis of lignins from fir and birch were carried out on a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Wood lignin undergoes in three consecutive stages, corresponding to the evaporation of water, the formation of primary volatiles and the subsequent release of small molecular gases. The main pyrolysis sections and the maximum weight loss rates are quite different for different wood species. Phenols are the main volatile products, in addition to alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and so on. As the main gaseous products, CO, CO2, CH4 are released out greatly. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.