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The chemical structures of four alkali lignins isolated from poplar, fir, straw, and bagasse were investigated. To explore the relationship between the structural units and the thermal decomposition behavior, the system was tested by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The results indicated that the carbon content of poplar lignin (PL) was higher than that of others. Fir lignin (FL) exhibited the highest guaiacol units, while the other three lignins were abundant in syringol units. The thermal decomposition characteristics and pyrolysis products of the four lignins were influenced by the material structural and composition. The DTG curves showed that the initial temperatures and major degradation temperatures of woody lignins(FL and PL) with complex inherent structures were shifted to the high temperature zoom compared with that of non-woody (BL and SL) lignins. Py-GC/MS analysis showed that guaiacol-type phenolic compounds were predominant pyrolysis products derived from the four lignins. The yield of guaiacol-type phenols could reach 82.87%. Moreover, the BL had selectively on phenol-type compounds with yield of 27.89%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of Alcell lignin with various additive ratios (5%, 10%, and 15%, mass ratio) of nano-NiO was investigated using a horizontal pyrolyzer. Characterization methods, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and elemental analysis, were utilized to identify the catalytic fast pyrolysis products. The results indicated that the nano-NiO catalyst had remarkable effects on the yield and quality of these products. The formation of gases, especially CO, CO2, and CH4, were greatly promoted when the additive ratio increased, while the formation of bio-char was clearly inhibited. However, when the additive ratio was 10%, the maximum yield of bio-oil (53.09 wt.%) was obtained, and the corresponding maximum higher heating value (HHV) was 25.33 MJ/kg. Furthermore, nano-NiO caused a large variation in the species of the compounds in bio-oil. Operating with the optimal nano-NiO additive ratio (10%), the carbon conversion rate was 65.50%, and the energy conversion rate was 74.53%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, enzymatic/mild acidolysis lignin (EMAL) was isolated from the raw material Cunninghamia lanceolata, and hydrothermal depolymerization was carried out in subcritical water (from 250 to 350℃) using a cylindrical autoclave. The results revealed that the lowest yield of solid residue and highest liquid product yield were achieved at 325℃. The liquid products were primarily composed of phenolic monomers and oligomers. As the reaction temperature increased, repolymerization of the liquid products and dehydrogenation and deoxidation of the solid residues occurred. The high heating value (HHV) of the residues was larger than that of the EMAL, and it reached a maximal level at 275℃. Hydrothermal depolymerization and condensation reactions took place simultaneously even under mild conditions (250℃). Carbonization of the EMAL was remarkable when the reaction temperature reached 325℃. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two purified mild acidolysis lignins (MAL) extracted from triploid poplar, i.e., Alcell MAL and Alkali MAL, were compared. Some properties, including elemental contents, higher heating value (HHV), functional hydroxyl group compositions, and molecular weights, were tested to characterize the structure of these two MALs. The releasing laws of gases and the distribution of products were also investigated through the use of thermogravimetric Fourier transform infrared (TGFTIR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The results showed that both MALs had pyrolytic advantages, largely because of their unique chemical structures. However, although the species of volatiles from Alkali MAL were similar to those from Alcell MAL, the releasing temperature range for Alcell MAL was relatively narrow and the volatiles from it were concentrated. Among the fast pyrolytic products, phenols were the most abundant. The yield of 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol, which was the dominant product, was 25.66% for Alcell MAL and 20.77% for Alkali MAL, respectively. Overall, pyrolytic products from Alcell MAL were more enriched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of organic bound Na groups on pyrolysis and gasification behaviors of alkali lignin, an experimental study was carried out by Thermogravimetric Analyzer coupled with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (TG-FTIR). Acid precipitated lignin (APL) and Alkali soluble lignin (ASL) were selected as the testing samples, and physiochemical properties were studied by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and SEM analyses. The research results showed that the pyrolysis and gasification characteristics of alkali lignin depended on phenolic sodium (-CONa) and carboxylate sodium (-COONa) groups (PCSG). In pyrolysis stage, PCSG improved the yields of alcohols and hydrocarbons but inhibited benzenes. During gasification stage, in the present of PCSG, the peak value of gasification rate increased, yet the initial gasification temperature decreased. Meanwhile, CO releasing was relatively concentrated and intensively increased from 37 min (740 °C) to 42 min (840 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]