Xiao-yan Jiang

Interaction characteristics and mechanism in the fast co-pyrolysis of cellulose and lignin model compounds

During biomass fast pyrolysis process, the interactions among biomass components will affect the pyrolytic products distribution. In this study, d-glucose and a β-O-4 type lignin model dimer (LMD, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)propane-1,3-diol) were selected as the model compounds of cellulose and lignin. The interaction characteristics and mechanism during their fast co-pyrolysis process were investigated by combined pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The Py–GC/MS results indicated that during fast co-pyrolysis process, the presence of LMD significantly decreased the formation of levoglucosan (LG) from d-glucose, while promoted the formation of linear carbonyls and furans. Meanwhile, the presence of d-glucose enhanced the decomposition of LMD to generate phenolic compounds. The DFT calculations revealed that d-glucose would interact with a homolysis radical of LMD to form a ten-membered ring transition state. The formed complex transition state changed the energy barriers of certain pyrolytic reactions of d-glucose and LMD, thus affecting the pyrolytic products distribution.

A Comprehensive Study on Pyrolysis Mechanism of Substituted β-O-4 Type Lignin Dimers

In order to understand the pyrolysis mechanism of β-O-4 type lignin dimers, a pyrolysis model is proposed which considers the effects of functional groups (hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl and methoxyl) on the alkyl side chain and aromatic ring. Furthermore, five specific β-O-4 type lignin dimer model compounds are selected to investigate their integrated pyrolysis mechanism by density functional theory (DFT) methods, to further understand and verify the proposed pyrolysis model. The results indicate that a total of 11 pyrolysis mechanisms, including both concerted mechanisms and homolytic mechanisms, might occur for the initial pyrolysis of the β-O-4 type lignin dimers. Concerted mechanisms are predominant as compared with homolytic mechanisms throughout unimolecular decomposition pathways. The competitiveness of the eleven pyrolysis mechanisms are revealed via different model compounds, and the proposed pyrolysis model is ranked in full consideration of functional groups effects. The proposed pyrolysis model can provide a theoretical basis to predict the reaction pathways and products during the pyrolysis process of β-O-4 type lignin dimers.

Theoretical Investigation of the Formation Mechanism of NH3 and HCN during Pyrrole Pyrolysis: The Effect of H2O

Coal is a major contributor to the global emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The NOx formation during coal utilization typically derives from the thermal decomposition of N-containing compounds (e.g., pyrrolic groups). NH3 and HCN are common precursors of NOx from the decomposition of N-containing compounds. The existence of H2O has significant influences on the pyrrole decomposition and NOx formation. In this study, the effects of H2O on pyrrole pyrolysis to form NOx precursors HCN and NH3 are investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) method. The calculation results indicate that the presence of H2O can lead to the formation of both NH3 and HCN during pyrrole pyrolysis, while only HCN is formed in the absence of H2O. The initial interaction between pyrrole and H2O determines the N products. NH3 will be formed when H2O attacks the C2 position of pyrrole with its hydroxyl group. On the contrary, HCN will be generated instead of NH3 when H2O attacks the C3 position of pyrrole with its hydroxyl group. In addition, the DFT calculations clearly indicate that the formation of NH3 will be promoted by H2O, whereas the formation of HCN is inhibited.