Kinetic Study of the Pyrolysis and Oxidation of Guaiacol

Guaiacol or 2-methoxy phenol is one of the main primary tars produced during lignin pyrolysis. Tar conversion in the gas phase influences the production of gaseous and condensable products, and is also responsible for PAH and soot formation during biomass and bio-oil gasification or combustion. Guaiacol pyrolysis and oxidation under stoichiometric conditions were studied in a jet stirred reactor between 623 and 923 K for a residence time of 2 s and under a pressure of 800 Torr (106.7 kPa). Speciation was obtained thanks to online gas chromatography using flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry and allowed the quantification of 22 species in pyrolysis and 42 species in oxidation. Decomposition of guaiacol starts at 650 K, and a conversion degree of 50% is obtained at about 785 K in pyrolysis and 765 K in oxidation. The main products of reaction are pyrocatechol o-HOC6H4OH, o-hydroxybenzaldehyde, methylcatechols, and light products, such as methane, carbon monoxide, ethylene, and hydrogen. A detailed kinetic model based on a combustion model for light aromatics and anisole has been extended to guaiacol. Thermochemical data of guaiacol and main products were calculated theoretically at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. The model predicts well the conversion of guaiacol and the formation of the main products. Guaiacol decomposes mainly through a unimolecular O-C bond breaking to hydroxy phenoxy and methyl radicals in both pyrolysis and oxidation, but H atom abstractions are also of importance in the low temperature range of the study. The unimolecular mechanism leads mainly to pyrocatechol and methylcatechols, whereas the chain radical mechanism is responsible for the formation of hydroxybenzaldehyde. As for anisole but in a much lower extent, an early formation of benzene and soot precursors is observed.