Lignin-phenol monomers govern the pyrolytic conversion of natural biomass from lignocellulose to products

The effect of the interaction between lignin-phenol monomers and holocellulose in natural biomass on the distribution of pyrolysis products remains unknown. The results of this study showed that the interaction between lignin and holocellulose during the pyrolysis of natural biomass became more pronounced as the pyrolysis temperature increased. The interaction between lignin and holocellulose in the natural crosslinked structure promoted the generation of CO and inhibited the generation of CO₂ at 750 °C. Lignin inhibited the decarboxylic reaction of hemicellulose during pyrolysis but was important for the generation of levoglucosan during cellulose pyrolysis. Holocellulose slowed the demethoxyreaction of lignin guaiacol but promoted the removal of aliphatic hydrocarbon substituents from the aromatic ring. The cinnamyl phenol monomers of lignin increased the rates of change of biomass pyrolysis products with the lignin mass fraction at 400 °C. However, when the pyrolysis temperature increased to 750 °C, all types of lignin phenol monomers increased the rates of change of the biomass pyrolysis products. Our results provide new insights that have implications for the development of pyrolysis techniques for the resource recycling of various types of biomass for the preparation of high-grade gaseous and liquid fuels.