PYROLYSIS OF LIGNIN AND IR ANALYSIS OF RESIDUES

The kinetics of isothermal pyrolysis of lignins occurring in hardwood found in the north of Argentina was studied using thermogravimetric te chniques (TG/TGA). From the thermograms, which showed a similar behavi our in all the studied species, were determined the kinetic parameters for the isothermalpyrolysis in the temperature range between 226 and 435 degrees C using the Avrami-Erofeev equation for solid state reacti ons and the Arrhenius equation. The solid residues obtained at each te mperature were analysed by infrared spectrophotometry in search for th e modifications taking place in the different functional groups asa re sult of the temperature effect. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.