Evolved gas analysis and slow pyrolysis mechanism of bamboo by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Slow pyrolysis of bamboo is an important conversion pathway to produce biofuels and chemicals such as biomass-derived fertilizer precursor (biochar). In this study, evolved gas analysis during pyrolysis of bamboo was conducted by a combination of TG, FTIR and GC–MS to establish a detailed pyrolysis mechanism of bamboo biomass. The main decomposition temperature zones were 300–400 °C and it reached the maximum mass loss intensity at 350 °C based on DTG curves. The main functional groups escaped from biomass during pyrolysis were –OH, –CH2, –CH3, C O, C–O, and –COOH. The main compounds during pyrolysis of bamboo were acetic acid and 2-propenoic acid, ethenyl ester at 300 °C, 2-oxo-propanoic acid and 1-hydroxy-2-propanone at 350 °C and acetic acid and acetic acid ethenyl ester at 400 °C. Evolved gas analysis indicated that components in bamboo occurred in different temperatures and pyrolysis mechanisms and resulted in distinguishing pyrolysis product emission characteristics.