Pyrolysis of biomass by thermal analysis–mass spectrometry (TA–MS)

The kinetic parameters such as pre-exponential factor and activation energy of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were well determined by the linear regressions of selected, sufficient thermogravimetric data, and close to literature values. The pyrolysis of biomass can be divided into four stages. There was only drying in the zeroth stage (<150 °C). In the first stage (150–250 °C), some light hydrocarbons were produced with the early pyrolysis of biomass. The biomass was mainly pyrolyzed in the second stage (250–500 °C) with higher reaction rates than those of other stages. The productions of H2 and CO2 in the third stage (>500 °C) may be able to be the evidence of self-gasification of char existing at higher temperatures.