TY - JOUR
T1 - Pyrolysis behavior of lignin model compounds
AU - Buchanan, A. C.
AU - Kidder, Michelle K.
AU - Beste, Ariana
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Biomass continues to receive considerable attention as a possible renewable source of liquid transportation fuels and aromatic chemicals. Lignin is an abundant, biopolymer rich in aromatic oxygen functional groups (e.g. phenols, alcohols, ethers) that is derived from vascular plants and as a byproduct of the pulping process in paper mills. However, lignin is underutilized in part because of the complex cross-linked structure of the biopolymer and the inability to control the thermochemical decomposition process to form desirable products. Hence, a key need is an improved understanding of the fundamental thermochemical decay pathways such that better control over product selectivity and subsequent catalytic upgrading can be achieved. In this presentation, we will discuss our investigations of the fundamental pyrolysis behavior of lignin model compounds that represent key substructures in the lignin biopolymer. Our principal focus has been on molecules representative of the dominant arylglycerol-beta-aryl ether (beta-O-4 linkage). Results will be presented from both slow (low temperature, long residence time) and fast (high temperature, short residence time) pyrolysis conditions. Additional mechanistic insights are gleaned from DFT calculations on key elementary reactions steps.
AB - Biomass continues to receive considerable attention as a possible renewable source of liquid transportation fuels and aromatic chemicals. Lignin is an abundant, biopolymer rich in aromatic oxygen functional groups (e.g. phenols, alcohols, ethers) that is derived from vascular plants and as a byproduct of the pulping process in paper mills. However, lignin is underutilized in part because of the complex cross-linked structure of the biopolymer and the inability to control the thermochemical decomposition process to form desirable products. Hence, a key need is an improved understanding of the fundamental thermochemical decay pathways such that better control over product selectivity and subsequent catalytic upgrading can be achieved. In this presentation, we will discuss our investigations of the fundamental pyrolysis behavior of lignin model compounds that represent key substructures in the lignin biopolymer. Our principal focus has been on molecules representative of the dominant arylglycerol-beta-aryl ether (beta-O-4 linkage). Results will be presented from both slow (low temperature, long residence time) and fast (high temperature, short residence time) pyrolysis conditions. Additional mechanistic insights are gleaned from DFT calculations on key elementary reactions steps.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951524041&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference article
AN - SCOPUS:79951524041
SN - 0065-7727
JO - ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
JF - ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
T2 - 239th ACS National Meeting and Exposition
Y2 - 21 March 2010 through 25 March 2010
ER -