Coniferyl alcohol from newsprint burning

Coniferyl alcohol constitutes almost half of the amount of methoxyphenols i n smoke from choked burning of newsprint produced from thermomechanical pul p. The results indicate that coniferyl alcohol is a key component not only in biosynthesis but also in thermal decomposition of lignin. The trans isom er was formed in 5-10 times larger amounts than the cis isomer. Coniferyl a lcohol and the oxidised analogue coniferaldehyde were also shown to be the most prominent methoxyphenols in chimney smoke from stove burning of newspr int. The methoxyphenols were determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrome try both after direct smoke injection and after adsorbent sampling combined with thermal desorption. Coniferyl alcohol is more reactive and less volat ile than commonly reported methoxyphenols in smoke from biomass burning. It s assessment therefore depends on adequate methods for sampling and analysi s.