Pyrolysis Products of Lignin in Open and Sealed Vessels Studied by Py-GC-MS

The pyrolysis products of lignin in open and sealed vessels were studied by pyrolysis—gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). Several kinds of phenolic derivatives were observed in the pyrolysates in both treatments, while phenolic compounds with alkenyl or acetyl groups had higher relative contents in the open vessel than those in the sealed vessel. Phenol and its alkyl or mono-methoxy substituted derivatives become the main pyrolysis products in the sealed vessel. Most of the lignin pyrolysis products in the open vessel could be detected by Py-GC-MS, but some active products would go through further reaction in the sealed vessel.