Abstract
The pyrolysis of 2,3- and 2,4-xylenol, characteristic of coal and biomass pyrolysis tar, was studied at 573–673 K under argon atmosphere. The reaction time varied from 1 to 6 h. Conversions were particularly low, less than 10%. 2,4-Xylenol is more reactive than 2,3-xylenol. The intermediate benzyl radical formed from 2,4-xylenol is stabilized by resonance and delocalization factors. Only the resonance factor stabilizes the intermediate benzyl radical formed from 2,3-xylenol. The important thermal reactions are demethylation and isomerization, while ring methylation and dehydroxylation become significant at higher conversions. The products formed are cresols, isomeric xylenols, trimethylphenols, phenol, trimethylbenzene and pentamethylbenzene.
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