Oxidative pyrolysis of integral softwood pellets

Journal article, 2003

Commercial wood pellets are increasingly used for residential heating. Characterisations were made of smoke components from oxidative pyrolysis of softwood pellets from compressed sawdust and wood shavings. Specific compounds released by flaming and glowing laboratory burning were sampled on Tenax cartridges and assessed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Six lignin-related 2-methoxyphenols with antioxidant properties, together with 1,6-anhydroglucose from cellulose, were the major primary semi-volatile compounds released during flaming burning. Glowing combustion released benzene as the predominant aromatic compound.