Low temperature pyrolysis characteristics of major components of biomass

The low temperature pyrolysis characteristics of major components of biomass were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The results obtained by TGA show that the thermal stability of major components of biomass was in descending order of cellulose > lignin > hemicellulose. The main pyrolysis temperature range of hemicellulose is at 210–320°C, whereas those of cellulose and lignin are 310–390°C and 200–550°C, respectively. The Py-GC/MS was used for studying the effects of temperature on low temperature pyrolysis products of major components of biomass, which had different contribution to the volatiles. The degradation of hemicellulose generates acetic acid, 1-hydroxy-propanone, and 1-hydroxy-2-butanone. The high yield of levoglucosan and anhydro-cellobise is from pyrolysis of cellulose. Guaiacol is associated with degradation of the lignin.