Electrochemically assisted pyrolysis of hardwoods

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5563884

Koch, V R

This project explored the low-temperature, electrochemically assisted pyrolysis of lignocellulosic material to low-molecular-weight organic chemicals. Through the agency of low temperature AlCl{sub 3}-based molten salts, aspen hardwood flour was reacted in AlCl{sub 3}:NaCl, AlCl{sub 3}:NaCl:KCl, and AlCl{sub 3}:BPC (n-butylpyridinium chloride) media at temperatures from 30-220 C. A wide variety of water soluble products were formed comprising CO, CO{sub 2}, keto-alcohols and low molecular weight phenolic compounds as determined by GC and FTIR spectroscopy. The compounds represented about 32% by weight of the aspen wood flour. Owing to the narrow (2 volt) electrochemical window versus an Al reference electrode, neither the wood flour nor the reaction products manifested any electro-activity. Authentic samples of cellulose, hemicellulose, and Klason lignin were also subjected to low temperature pyrolysis. Only the hemicellulose reacted to give CO{sub 2} and keto-alcohols.

• Research Organization: Covalent Associates, Inc., Woburn, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5563884
• Report Number(s): PB-89-197321/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090400* -- Solid Waste & Wood Fuels-- (-1989)
ALCOHOLS
ASPENS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
HEMICELLULOSE
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
LIGNIN
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
POPLARS
PYROLYSIS
SACCHARIDES
SOLVENTS
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TREES
WOOD