Prediction of Klason lignin and lignin thermal degradation products by Py–GC/MS in a collection of Lolium and Festuca grasses

A rapid method for the analysis of biomass feedstocks was established to identify the quality of the pyrolysis products likely to impact on bio-oil production. A total of 15 Lolium and Festuca grasses known to exhibit a range of Klason lignin contents were analysed by pyroprobe–GC/MS (Py–GC/MS) to determine the composition of the thermal degradation products of lignin. The identification of key marker compounds which are the derivatives of the three major lignin subunits (G, H, and S) allowed pyroprobe-GC/MS to be statistically correlated to the Klason lignin content of the biomass using the partial least-square method to produce a calibration model. Data from this multivariate modelling procedure was then applied to identify likely “key marker” ions representative of the lignin subunits from the mass spectral data. The combined total abundance of the identified key markers for the lignin subunits exhibited a linear relationship with the Klason lignin content. In addition the effect of alkali metal concentration on optimum pyrolysis characteristics was also examined. Washing of the grass samples removed approximately 70% of the metals and changed the characteristics of the thermal degradation process and products. Overall the data indicate that both the organic and inorganic specification of the biofuel impacts on the pyrolysis process and that pyroprobe–GC/MS is a suitable analytical technique to asses lignin composition.     

Analytical strategies for chemical characterization of bio‐oil

Bio‐oils, produced by biomass pyrolysis, have become promising candidates for feedstocks of high value‐added chemicals and alternative sources for transportation fuels. Bio‐oil is such a complicated mixture that contains nonpolar hydrocarbons and polar components which cover almost all kinds of organic oxygenated compounds such as carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, furfurals, phenolic compounds, sugar‐like material, and lignin‐derived compounds. Comprehensive characterization of bio‐oil and its subfractions could provide insight into the conversion process of biomass processing, as well as its further utilization as transportation fuels or chemical raw materials. This review focuses on advanced analytical strategies on in‐depth characterization of bio‐oil, which is concerned with gas chromatography, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy, offering complementary information for previous reviews.     

生物质组分及温度对闪速热解挥发分的影响

生物质是一种可再生、污染小的自然资源，它可以直接燃烧产生热能，也可以转化为气体、液体燃料或化工原料。生物质热转化技术近年来受到国内外学者的广泛重视。而热转化过程中，热解是第一步，与生物质组分、热解温度、滞留时间等因素有关。热重仪（TGA）是一种研究热解机理常用的方法，它适用于慢速程序升温的热解研究。研究发现，热解条件及生物质种类对反应表观活化能与表观频率因子等动力学参数有很大影响。层流炉闪速加热设备，已经用于煤的热解研究。本文利用自己设计的以热等离子体为热源的层流炉系统，对椰子壳、棉花秆和稻壳粉末进行了闪速热解实验研究及模型理论分析，探讨了生物质化学组分、热解温度和滞留时间对挥发分的影响，为生物质闪速热解提供了一定的基础数据。     

Identifying acetylated lignin units in non-wood fibers using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A series of non-wood plant fibers, namely kenaf, jute, sisal and abaca, have been analyzed upon pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) of the whole material. The pyrolysis products mainly arise from the carbohydrate and lignin moieties of the fibers. The lignin-derived phenols belonged to the p-hydroxyphenylpropanoid (H), guaiacylpropanoid (G) and syringylpropanoid (S) structures, and showed a high S/G ratio of between 2.0 and 5.4, the highest corresponding to kenaf. Among the lignin-derived phenols released, small amounts of sinapyl and coniferyl acetates (in both cis- and trans-forms) were identified for the first time upon Py-GC/MS of lignocellulosic materials. Acetylation of the sinapyl and coniferyl alcohols was at the gamma-position of the side chain. The release of these alcohols derived from intact acetylated lignin units upon pyrolysis seems to indicate that the native lignin in the fibers selected for this study is at least partially acetylated. Sinapyl (and coniferyl) acetates have recently been suggested to be authentic lignin precursors involved in the polymerization of lignin along with the normal sinapyl and coniferyl alcohols. Py-GC/MS will offer a convenient and rapid tool for analyzing naturally acetylated lignins, as well as to screen plant materials for the presence of acetylated units in lignin.     

Relevance of analytical pyrolysis studies to biomass conversion

The principles and methods of soft ionization mass spectrometry in combination with pyrolysis of macromolecules are outlined. Essential features of the newly developed techniques are the extension of the recorded mass range and the almost exclusive formation of molecular ions of the pyrolyzates. Using field ionization and field desorption mass spectrometry at low and high mass resolution, with electrical and photographic detection, pyrolysis products of biomass were analyzed for the first time. The results of flash pyrolysis by Curie-point heating and thermally programmed degradation of biopolymers are compared.The main topic is the evaluation of the methodology for time- and temperature-resolved pyrolysis. The thermograms and pyrolysis mass spectra obtained enable the study of pyrolysis reactions and the chemical fingerprinting of complex biological matter. The kinetics for the devolatilization of individual chemical species or classes of compounds can be monitored. Curie-point pyrolysis of biopolymers such as kappa-carrageenan and time-programmed degradation of cellulose and lignin are reported. Furthermore, preliminary investigations of pine wood and coal illustrate the potential of the introduced methods.     

生物质主要组分低温热解研究

利用热重分析仪和裂解气质联用仪进行生物质主要组分低温热解特性研究。热重实验结果表明,生物质主要组分的热稳定性为：纤维素>木质素>半纤维素。半纤维素主要热解温度在210℃～320℃,而纤维素和木质素的主要热解温度分别在310℃～390℃和200℃～550℃。裂解气质联用实验考察不同温度对生物质主要组分低温热解产物的影响。半纤维素热解产物主要有乙酸、1-羟基-丙酮和1-羟基-2-丁酮,纤维素热解产物主要包括左旋葡聚糖和脱水纤维二糖,而木质素热解产物主要是邻甲氧基苯酚。     

Rapid characterization of biomaterials by field ionization

The direct application of field ionization to complex biomaterials is described. Volatiles are characterized by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Complex involatile materials are investigated by thermal degradation in high vacuum. The methodology and typical analytical features of pyrolysis of biopolymers and soft ionization of their pyrolysates in the high electric field are described. The combination of direct, in-source pyrolysis mass spectrometry and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry is used in two steps. Firstly, for fast profiling of the complex materials and, secondly, for identification of significant products of the controlled thermal degradation process. In particular, temperature programmed/time-resolved pyrolysis field ionization mass spectrometry has been shown to be an efficient analytical tool as demonstrated for typical examples such as chitin, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, wood, peat and coal. Recent results on foodstuffs such as coffee, chocolate, tea and biscuits illustrate the potential of the combined methods for routine work.     

Micro-pyrolysis of technical lignins in a new modular rig and product analysis by GC–MS/FID and GC × GC–TOFMS/FID

A new offline-pyrolysis rig has been designed to allow multifunctional experiments for preparative and analytical purposes. The system conditions can be set and monitored, e.g. temperature, its gradients and heat flux. Some special features include (1) high heating rates up to 120 °C/s with pyrolysis temperatures up to 850 °C at variable pyrolysis times and (2) the selection of different atmospheres during pyrolysis. A complete mass balance of products and reactants (gas, liquids and solids) by gravimetric methods and sequential chromatographic analyses was obtained.The pyrolytic behaviour and the decomposition products of lignin-related compounds were studied under different conditions: heating rates (from 2.6 °C/s up to 120 °C/s), pyrolysis temperatures at 500 °C and 800 °C in different atmospheres (N₂, H₂, and mixtures of N₂ and acetylene). Kraft lignin, soda lignin, organosolv lignin, pyrolytic lignin from pine bio-oil, residues from biomass hydrolysis and fermentation were studied.The obtained pyrolysis products were classified into three general groups: coke, liquid phase and gas phase (volatile organic compounds (VOC) and permanent gases). The liquid fraction was analysed by GC–MS/FID. In addition, comprehensive two-dimensional GC was applied to further characterise the liquid fraction. VOCs were semi-quantified by a modified headspace technique using GC–MS/FID analysis. The micro-pyrolysis rig proved to be an efficient and useful device for complex pyrolysis applications.     

Characterisation of archaeological waterlogged wood by pyrolytic and mass spectrometric techniques

Two techniques based on analytical pyrolysis and mass spectrometry, direct exposure-MS (DE-MS) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), were used to characterise waterlogged archaeological wood and to study degradation patterns of wood in aqueous environments. The two techniques were applied to samples from the excavation of the Site of the Ancient Ships of Pisa San Rossore in Pisa (Italy), and data were compared to those relative to native sound wood of the same species (pine, elm, beech). Both the methods result valuable in the analysis of ancient wood artefacts, avoiding the long wet-chemical procedures that are commonly used in wood analysis, and allowing us to use a minimal sample size. DE-MS achieves a global mass spectral fingerprint of lignin and polysaccharides pyrolysis compounds in few minutes, and the results have been interpreted with the support of principal component analysis (PCA) of mass spectra. Py-GC/MS permits detailed molecular analysis of pyrolysis compounds and highlights some chemical modifications of lignin in archaeological samples, as demethylation of both guaiacyl and syringyl lignin units. Both the techniques demonstrate consistent loss of polysaccharides in archaeological wood.     

Pyrolysis analysis of Japanese lacquer films: Direct probe-Li+ ion attachment mass spectrometry versus pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Li⁺ ion attachment mass spectrometry (Li⁺IAMS) with a temperature-programmed direct probe allows the analysis of nonvolatile complex natural materials. With this technique, chemical species can be detected at atmospheric pressure in real time, a capability that is particularly useful for analyzing evolved gas products. The products of pyrolysis can be studied by analyzing the mass spectra of degraded samples. Here, we investigated the pyrolysis of Japanese lacquer films (urushi) through temperature-programmed heating using direct probe-Li⁺IAMS. The analyzed sample had a characteristic profile in both the appearance of unique components and the distribution of pyrolysis products. Among the pyrolysis products detected, carboxylic acids, phenols, catechols, and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were most abundant. We compared our results with those of a previous pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry study of Japanese urushi samples. This comparison demonstrated significant differences between the two techniques in terms of the products and their distributions in the Japanese lacquer films. Our approach offers the opportunity to directly study the pyrolysis processes occurring in complex natural materials and suggests a way to determine the identity of a lacquer source by identifying different types of lacquer monomer.     

Thermal analysis/mass spectrometry using soft photo-ionisation for the investigation of biomass and mineral oils

The combined analytical methods of thermal analysis and mass spectrometry have been applied in form of a newly developed prototype of a thermogravimetry — single photon ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer coupling (TG-SPI-TOFMS) to investigate the molecular patterns of evolved gases from several biomass samples as well as a crude oil sample. Single photon ionization (SPI) was conducted by means of a novel electron beam pumped argon excimer lamp (EBEL) as photon source. With SPI-TOFMS various lignin decomposition products such as guaiacol, syringol and coniferyl alcohol could be monitored. Furthermore, SPI allows the detection of aliphatic hydrocarbons, mainly alkenes, carbonylic compounds such as acetone, and furan derivatives such as furfuryl alcohol and hydroxymethylfurfural. More alkaline biomass such as coarse colza meal show intense signals from nitrogen containing substances such as (iso-)propylamine and pyrrole. Thermal degradation of crude oil takes place in two steps, evaporation of volatile components and pyrolysis of larger molecular structures at higher temperatures. Due to the soft ionisation, homologue rows of alkanes and alkenes could be detected on basis of their molecular ions. The obtained information from the thermal analysis/photo ionisation mass spectrometry experiments can be drawn on in comparison to the investigation of the primary products from flash pyrolysis of biomass for production of biofuels and chemicals.     

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of oil palm shell biomass using an overhead stirrer

Oil palm shell biomass contains a high amount of lignin and thus has the potential to be converted into value-added products. If this biomass is not utilised efficiently, significant loss of valuable chemical products may occur, which otherwise can be recovered. In this paper, a new technique using an overhead stirrer to pyrolyse biomass under microwave (MW) irradiation was investigated. The ratio of biomass to activated carbon was varied to investigate its effect on the temperature profile, product yield and phenol content of the bio-oil. Interestingly, the microwave pyrolysis temperature could be controlled by varying the biomass to carbon ratio. The highest bio-oil yield and phenol content in bio-oil were obtained at a biomass to carbon ratio of 1:0.5. Chemical analyses of bio-oil were performed using FT-IR, GC–MS and ¹H NMR techniques. These results indicate that bio-oil consists mainly of aliphatic and aromatic compounds with high amounts of phenol in the bio-oil. Thus, MW pyrolysis with a stirrer successfully produced high-phenol bio-oil compared to other methods. This significant increase in bio-oil quality could either partially or wholly replace petroleum-derived phenol in many phenol-based applications.     

On the interaction of HBT with pulp lignin during mediated laccase delignification—a study using fractionated pyrolysis-GC/MS

An analytical method using fractionated pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was developed and applied for characterizing the type of interaction between 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT)-mediator and pulp lignin in laccase delignification of pulp. In fractionated pyrolysis, the sample is pyrolyzed at progressively increasing temperatures in order to study particular fractions of the sample and to minimize secondary pyrolysis effects. This makes it possible to determine whether a certain pyrolysis product originates from one chemical moiety or different chemical moieties in one molecule. In the present method, samples were fractionated by thermal desorption at 200 °C followed by pyrolysis at progressively increasing temperatures from 320 to 800 °C. The products formed in each fraction were separated in a capillary GC column and detected and identified using MS. The type of interaction between HBT and pulp lignin was studied by following the formation of nitrogen-containing products during fractionated pyrolysis of a residual lignin isolated from laccase/HBT-treated oxygen-delignified softwood kraft pulp. This residual lignin was found to contain approximately 2% HBT residue. Most (87%) of this residue was covalently linked to the residual lignin. The results also strongly suggest that the HBT residue is present in two chemically different forms.     

Analytical pyrolysis studies of corn stalk and its three main components by TG-MS and Py-GC/MS

The pyrolysis behaviors of corn stalk and its three real components (i.e. hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) have been investigated with the techniques of TG-MS and Py-GC/MS. The thermal behavior and the evolution profiles of major volatile fragments from each sample pyrolysis have been discussed in depth, while paying close attention to the impact and contributions of each component on the raw material pyrolysis. It was found that pyrolysis of the corn stalk was a comprehensive reflection of its three main components both on thermogravimetric characteristics and on products distribution and their formation profiles. Hemicellulose definitely made the greatest contribution to the formation of acids and ketones at around 300 °C. Cellulose was more dedicated to the products of furans and small molecule aldehydes in a short temperature range 320–410 °C. While lignin mainly contributed to produce phenols and heterocyclic compounds over a wider temperature range 240–550 °C. The experimental results obtained in the present work are of interest for further studies on selective fast pyrolysis of biomass into energy and chemicals.     

Discrimination of genetically modified poplar clones by analytical pyrolysis–gas chromatography and principal component analysis

Analytical pyrolysis combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) is a relatively rapid (1–3 h) method for the investigation of polymers. Various wood tissues from transgenic poplar clones and from control samples have been subjected to a screening test by Py-GC–MS. Pyrolysis products from lignin- and carbohydrate-derived pyrolysis products were subjected to multivariate principal component analysis (PCA). The first three PC accounting for 39–72% of the total variance in the original data set could be attributed to vinyl products from lignin and levoglucosan from cellulose. Samples with gene construct rbcs-rol C were only discriminated by plotting PC1 versus PC3 using the whole data set. However, the wood from trees containing gene construct 35 S-rol C were discriminated in all examined models indicating significant impacts during biosynthesis of the wood. One sample within the data set was further clustered because it turned out that this tree died off after two vegetation periods.     

新型潜香化合物3,6-二甲基-2,5-吡嗪二甲酸二薄荷醇酯的热裂解产物

为开发新型高温释放型烟用香料,以2,3,5,6-四甲基吡嗪和薄荷醇为原料,经过酯化反应制备了3,6-二甲基-2,5-吡嗪二甲酸二薄荷醇酯(DPAME).采用在线热裂解-气相色谱-质谱联用技术(Py-GC-MS)在空气氛围和不同的温度(300、600和900 ℃)下,对DPAME进行热裂解研究,裂解产物经GC-MS进行了定性和半定量分析.结果表明,DPAME在300 ℃下裂解产生了多种有致香效果的醛类、薄荷烯和薄荷醇等;在600 ℃和900 ℃下裂解产生了烯烃类、烷基吡嗪、薄荷醇和薄荷烯等香味物质,并且吡嗪类的种类和相对含量在这两个温度下明显增加.结合DPAME的热裂解产物分析和卷烟感官评吸结果,初步推测了其可能的裂解机理.采用该方法可以方便、快速地分离鉴定物质的热裂解产物,为该物质在烟草中的加香应用提供理论依据.     

Py-GC/MS characterization of a wild and a selected clone of Arundo donax,and of its residues after catalytic hydrothermal conversion to high added-value products

Two analytical procedures based on gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to study the compositions of a wild population and a selected clone (Torviscosa) of giant reed (Arundo donax L.), one of the most promising biomass both in terms of energy and fine chemicals production. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to characterize and quantitatively determine the monosaccharide composition. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as a derivatising agent, was used to characterize the lignocellulosic polymers. Analytical pyrolysis was also used to study the composition of residues left after the catalytic hydrolysis used to convert cellulose to levulinic acid and hemicellulose to furfural.GC/MS allowed us to determine the monosaccharide composition and polysaccharide content of the giant reed samples, highlighting that there was no significant difference between the wild population and the selected clone. GC/MS also highlighted that the giant reed leaves have a higher percentage (roughly 60%) of polysaccharide material than the stalks, which contain approximately 50%.Py-GC/MS, following the disappearance of the pyrolysis products of polysaccharides, showed that 150 °C and 190 °C are the best temperatures to obtain the complete catalytic conversion of hemicellulose and cellulose, respectively. Analytical pyrolysis also highlighted that in the course of catalytic hydrothermal conversion a partial depolymerisation of lignin was obtained. In particular, the formation of lignin units containing free phenol groups via the cleavage of the β-aryl ether bonds was demonstrated. The presence of these free phenols in the lignin network suggests the possible exploitation of lignin residues as antioxidant components or in high value biopolymer industries rather than the traditional use as low-value fuel for energy production.     

The potential of pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for determining the progress of lignification: An investigation of maturing asparagus sclerenchyma tissue

Sclerenchyma tissues from semi-mature and mature asparagus spears were analysed by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and by conventional chemical methods in order to determine the degree of lignification and compare analytical techniques. The pyrolysis data are similar to those obtained by a chemical method involving alkaline extraction at 70°C followed by spectrophotometric determination of phenolic content. The pyrolysis method was more rapid, sensitive and informative than the chemical technique and shows considerable potential for studying the chemical basis of the textural development of plant foods.     

Fast pyrolysis of biomass

The development of viable fast pyrolysis processes for biomass and other carbonaceous feedstocks will offer significant advantages over conventional pyrolysis, flash pyrolysis and gasification processes with respect to product yield quality and flexibility. Fast pyrolysis is defined and related to other biomass thermochemical conversion processes in some detail. Brief references are made to corresponding coal, hydrocarbon and oil conversion research and development. Proposed mechanisms and chemical pathways are reviewed, potential products. product upgrading and product applications are identified. Fast pyrolysis research is reviewed on both the fundamental bench-scale level and the applied process development level.     

Pyrolysis of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). 1. Experimental study with molecular-beam mass spectrometry and tunable synchrotron VUV photoionization

An experimental study of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) pyrolysis (3.72% MTBE in argon) has been performed at low pressure (267 Pa) within the temperature range from 700 to 1420 K. The pyrolysis process was detected with the tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization and molecular-beam mass spectrometry (MBMS). About thirty intermediates are identified from near-threshold measurements of photoionization mass spectrum and photoionization efficiency spectrum. Among them, H2, CO, CH4, CH3OH and C4H8 are the major pyrolysis products. The radicals such as methyl, methoxy, propargyl, allyl, C4H5 and C4H7 are detected. The isomers of pyrolysis products are identified as well, i.e., propyne and allene, 1,2,3-butatriene and vinylacetylene, isobutene and 1-butene, propanal and acetone. Furthermore, the mole fractions of the pyrolysis products have been evaluated under various temperatures. Meanwhile, the initial formation temperatures of different pyrolysis products can be obtained. This work is anticipated to present a new experimental method for pyrolysis study and help understand the pyrolysis and combustion chemistry of MTBE and other oxygenated fuels.