Effect of sulfuric acid addition on the yield and composition of lignin derived oligomers obtained by the auger and fast pyrolysis of Douglas-fir wood

- The use of sulfuric acid as additive in pyrolysis mitigates the undesirable catalytic effect of alkalines.
- The addition of sulfuric acid enhances the production of anhydrosugars but decreases the yield of lignin derived oligomers.
- Sulfuric acid affects mostly lignin derived oligomeric fractions with guaiacyl (G) units (with methoxyl groups).
- Sulfuric acid seems to catalyze the dehydration of 1,2-aryl migration intermediates and enhances the formation of char.