A study of the mechanisms of guaiacol pyrolysis based on free radicals detection technology

Abstract

In order to understand the reaction mechanism of lignin pyrolysis, the pyrolysis process of guaiacol (o-methoxyphenol) as a lignin model compound was studied by free radical detection technology (electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR) in this paper. It was proven that the pyrolysis reaction of guaiacol is a free radical reaction, and the free radicals which can be detected mainly by EPR are methyl radicals. This paper proposes a process in which four free radicals (radicals 1-C6H4(OH)O*, radicals 5-C6H4(OCH3)O*, methyl radicals, and hydrogen radicals) are continuously rearranged during the pyrolysis of guaiacol.