Effect of absorbed dose on the postradiation dry distillation of cellulose and lignin

The postradiation dry distillation of cellulose and lignin has been studied. During the course of irradiation to 3 MGy, the weights of samples remained almost unchanged. The overpoints of lignin and cellulose irradiated at 2.2 MGy decrease by ～80° and ～100°, respectively. A third of the condensate from cellulose and almost a half that from lignin were distilled off at lower temperatures. Thermally unstable compounds are formed in cellulose; these compounds are predominantly converted into furans upon subsequent heating. The distillation of irradiated lignin affords a smaller amount of tar, but it is richer in methoxyphenols. The aqueous organic fraction distilled off has a higher concentration of soluble organic compounds.