Pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis of biomass and the bio-oils produced from CO/H2O reactions

•Py-GC/MS characterised bio-polymers before and after liquefaction in CO/H2O.•Py-GC/MS gave more complete understanding of bio-oil composition than GC–MS.•Results identified pyrolysis oil production efficiency and product characteristics.•N- and O-compound transformations during CO/H2O reactions were revealed.

Py-GC/MS of microalgae (Chlorococcum sp.), grape marc and wood chips (Pinus radiata) and the bio-oils produced from CO/H2O reactions of these substrates has been studied. The Py-GC/MS technique provided a more complete understanding of the chemical composition of the bio-oil than conventional GC–MS and, also, more structural information on the biomass. Results show that the nature of the pyrolysis products depends on the original constituents of the biomass. The pyrolysate of the original feedstocks and the bio-oil included compounds derived from the original constituents in the biomass as well as from other secondary reactions for the bio-oil. The reactions of nitrogen compounds in the original biomass were elucidated.