Use of analytical pyrolysis for the characterization of paper industry effluents

Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY/GC/MS) was applied to the characterization of paper industry effluents subjected to various treatments, such as ultrafiltration and lignin precipitation. A number of pyrolysis products which can be ascribed to lignin and polysaccharides, as well as nitrogen containing compounds and elemental sulphur (S8) were identified in the pyrograms. The comparison of the relative distribution of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S) lignin units and polysaccharide markers in the various effluent fractions showed higher contents of polysaccharides and H lignin units in the acid-soluble fractions and in the ultrafiltration permeate, whereas the acid-insoluble fraction and the ultrafiltration concentrate were richer of lignin with G and S monomeric units.