Effect of essential inorganic metals on primary thermal degradation of lignocellulosic biomass

This study employed thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and analytical Py-GC/MS in order to examine the catalytic effect of main inorganic metals (K, Mg and Ca) on the thermal degradation and the formation of pyrolytic products in lignocellulosic biomass. In addition, potential mechanisms of the primary pyrolysis in presence of the inorganic metals were derived. TG analysis showed that when potassium content increased in the biomass, char formation increased from 10.5 wt.% to 19.6 wt.% at 550 degrees C, and temperatures at which the maximum degradation rate was achieved shifted from 367 degrees C to 333 degrees C. With increasing magnesium content, the maximum degradation rate increased from 1.21 wt.%/degrees C to 1.43 wt.%/degrees C. Analytical Py-GC/MS revealed that potassium had a distinguished catalytic effect promoting the formation of low molecular weight compounds and suppressing the formation of levoglucosan. An increase in the yield of C6 and C2C6 lignin derivatives with increasing potassium content was also observed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.