Tar compounds derived from the rapid pyrolysis of biomass hold promise as an alternative energy source, and can be exploited to generate hydrocarbons like gasoline, diesel, aromatics, and light gases.  In order to design large�scale processing units like industrial crackers for the thermochemical conversion of biomass�derived tar compounds, a fundamental mechanistic understanding of the gas�phase degradation reactions, reliable reaction rate data, and accurate thermochemical properties of reactants, products, and intermediate species are needed.  However, the complex structure of the starting material prohibits a detailed understanding of mechanistic pathways.  To study the fundamental degradation mechanisms of tar compounds, a useful approach is to examine the pyrolysis of model compounds that are components of tar.  In this study we report preliminary results from experimental flow�reactor studies on the gas�phase pyrolysis of two model-fuel compounds that have been observed as components of biomass tar: 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol and 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol.  We discuss the variation of gas product yields as functions of pyrolysis temperature.  The results presented in this study will provide an experimental foundation for the development of a thermal decomposition mechanistic scheme for these two model-fuel compounds.

Experimental study on the vapor-phase pyrolysis of two biomass tar compounds: 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol and 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.