Comprehensive insights into the influences of acid-base properties of chemical pretreatment reagents on biomass pyrolysis behavior and wood vinegar properties

Abstract Pyrolysis of biomass is an effective approach to produce high-value added solid, liquid and gaseous products. Wood vinegar (WV) is obtained as one of the main liquid products of biomass pyrolysis and has been used as the sustainable chemicals in agriculture. In this study, the effects of acid-base properties of chemical reagents on the biomass pyrolysis behavior and WV properties were investigated, and the mechanism was further discussed. The results indicated that acid-base properties of chemical reagents exhibited the significant effects on pyrolysis behavior and WV properties. Alkaline compounds showed the more obviously effects on changes in biomass chemical structure rather than acids, while acids removed the metallic species more efficiently than alkaline compounds. All chemical pretreatments increased the cellulose crystallinity, and the alkaline compounds were more favorable than the acidic compounds for increasing the crystallinity. Meanwhile, chemical pretreatments changed the chemical structure of biomass and promoted the pyrolysis process. All chemical pretreatments increased the organic content of WV. The relative content of phenols increased after all pretreatments, which increased more obviously by the acids pretreatments. Whereas, the relative content of acids decreased after pretreated by inorganic acids, and increased after pretreated by organic acids and alkaline compounds.