Chemistry of Pyrolysis of Polysaccharides and Lignocellulosics

Abstract

Recent developments in understanding of the chemical mechanisms involved in pyrolysis of polysaccharides will be reviewed. Special aspects include (a) the central role of the initial heterolytic scission of the glycosidic linkages, (b) influence of volatility of subsequent products in channelling degradation pathways, (c) effect of polysaccharide architecture on channelling reaction pathways, (d) influence of trace inorganic impurities on pyrolysis products. The use of isotopically labelled synthetic glycans in the elucidation of pyrolysis mechanisms will be described. Some applications of the above concepts to the control of thermochemical processing of biomass will be described, including the interaction of transition metal salts with lignocellulosics.