Combined NMR structural characterization and thermogravimetric analyses for the assessment of the AAEM effect during lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis

The thermogravimetric analyses show that AAEMs have different effects by influencing the degradation behavior and the mass balances. In particular, potassium and sodium elements accelerated the hemicellulose thermal degradation without modifying the reaction mechanism. In addition, they showed a catalytic effect in the cellulose degradation towards low weight molecules decomposition and condensation reactions leading to the increase of the char yield. Contrary, the presence of magnesium and calcium seems to inhibit the hemicellulose thermal degradation without a significant effect on the cellulose degradation mechanism.