Heteronuclear Single-Quantum Correlation–Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (HSQC–NMR) Fingerprint Analysis of Pyrolysis Oils

Abstract

The pyrolysis of softwood kraft lignin, cellulose, and Loblolly pine wood was examined at 400, 500, and 600 °C. The analysis of the yields of pyrolysis products indicated that lignin yielded the largest amount of a heavy oil and char and only trace levels of a light oil. In contrast, cellulose produced minor amounts of a heavy oil and char and more light oil. All of the pyrolysis oils were analyzed by heteronuclear single-quantum correlation–nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC–NMR) to analyze the structural components of the bio-oils, and three chemical-shift databases of compounds reported to be presented in pyrolysis oils produced from lignin, cellulose, and pine wood were employed for data analysis. On the basis of databases, analysis of the HSQC–NMR spectral data provides chemical-shift assignment of 27 different types of C–H bonds presented in the pyrolysis oils. The HSQC–NMR analysis of these pyrolysis oils indicated that there are two different types of methoxyl groups presented in the pyrolysis oils ...