Effect of the Temperature on the Composition of Lignin Pyrolysis Products

The temperature dependence of the pyrolysis products of two types of lignin (Alcell lignin and Asian lignin) was investigated using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PyGC-MS). About 50 compounds were identified and quantified for each type of lignin over a temperature range of 400-800 degrees C. The maximum yield of phenolic compounds was obtained at 600 degrees C for both lignins, which was 17.2% for Alcell lignin and 15.5% for Asian lignin. Most of the phenolic compounds had an individual yield of less than 1%; however, for Alcell lignin, 5-hydroxyvanillin was the highest yield at 4.29 wt % on dry ash-free lignin, and for Asian lignin, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol was the highest yield at 4.15 wt A on dry ash-free lignin.