Use of analytical pyrolysis for the characterization of paper industry effluents

Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY/GC/MS) was applied to the characterization of paper industry effluents subjected to various treatments, such as ultrafiltration and lignin precipitation, A number of pyrolysis products which can be ascribed to lignin and polysaccharides, as well as nitrogen containing compounds and elemental sulphur (S-8) were identified in the pyrograms. The comparison of the relative distribution of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S) lignin units and polysaccharide markers in the various effluent fractions showed higher contents of polysaccharides and H lignin units in the acid-soluble fractions and in the ultrafiltration permeate, whereas the acid-insoluble fraction and the ultrafiltration concentrate were richer of lignin with G and S monomeric units.