Pinus virginiana wood was heated (200°C, 10 or 60 min) while dry or after aqueous/acid/base pretreatment in order to reveal mechanisms of formaldehyde (CH2O) generation. Among wood structural polymers, lignin was the overwhelming source of biogenic CH2O, consistent with prior reports. The selection of acid catalyst strongly affected CH2O generation as predicted in the acidolysis literature of lignin model compounds and isolated lignins. Furthermore, pine wood extractives may play a catalytic role during in situ lignin reactions. Lignin methoxyl cleavage was also observed, but was considered an unlikely source of thermochemical CH2O. Alkaline pretreatments suppressed CH2O generation. Regarding wood-based composite manufacture, the implications are that lignin reactions can be manipulated during hot-pressing. Potential benefits include reduced product emissions, and/or novel crosslinking strategies using biogenic CH2O. Perhaps even lignin repolymerization could be promoted for benefit, in direct opposition to biorefinery strategies for lignin removal.

Lignin acidolysis predicts formaldehyde generation in pine wood

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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