Mechanism research on cellulose pyrolysis by Py-GC/MS and subsequent density functional theory studies

► Products from fast pyrolysis of cellulose include pyrans, furans and linear small molecular compounds. ► Cellubiose and glucose have higher furans content and lower pyrans content. ► Furfural is the product from 5-hydroxymethyl furfural decomposition. ► The results from density functional theory studies confirm and explain the experimental results. ► The reaction pathways of cellulose pyrolysis are deduced and a modified mechanism model is also proposed.