A study of the mechanisms of vanillin pyrolysis by mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis

The pyrolysis of vanillin (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde) was studied to determine the reaction pathways that lead to the formation of aromatics an d to establish an empirical kinetic model. Molecular beam mass spectrometry and multivariate data analysis were used to follow the complicated pyrolys is chemistry and to determine quantitative kinetic parameters of aromatic h ydrocarbon formation. The pyrolysis of vanillin is modeled as a lumped, two -step, sequential process. Possible identification of reaction intermediate s is discussed utilizing known reaction mechanisms and thermochemistry for anisole (C6H5OCH3) phenol (C6H5OH), and benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO). (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.