Advanced analytical pyrolysis in the field of biomass

The present PhD thesis deals with the development of procedures based on analytical pyrolysis for the characterisation of lignocellulosic biomass and its main component. Recently developed instrumental setups are applied for the first time to obtain new information on the complex phenomenon of biomass pyrolysis, with the aim of improving the current knowledge on the matter. The results provide new points of view on the pyrolysis mechanism of carbohydrates and polyphenols, and how these mechanisms can be affected by natural agents (UV light) and pre-treatment processes (ball-milling). The thesis presents five chapters: Chapter 1. State of the art - general introduction on biomass composition and usefulness, and techniques for its characterisation. Chapter 2. Reactive pyrolysis of carbohydrates - influence of high pressure and prolonged pyrolysis time on the thermal degradation of glucans and fructans. Chapter 3. Reactive pyrolysis of tannins - development of a screening procedure to assess the presence of tannins in lignocellulose using analytical pyrolysis-GC/MS with in situ silylation. Chapter 4. Analytical pyrolysis of wood with on-line UV irradiation - evaluation of the effects of UV irradiation on the pyrolytic behaviour of fir and chestnut wood. Chapter 5. Monitoring ball-milling of cellulose - effect of ball-milling on crystallinity index, degree of polymerisation, thermal stability and pyrolytic behaviour of cellulose.