Study on the pyrolysis of wood-derived rayon fiber by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry

The thermal pyrolysis of wood-derived rayon fiber has been studied from ambient temperature up to 800°C by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) analysis in an inert environment. Following an initial plateau region, the wood-derived rayon fiber rapidly decomposes in a narrow temperature range of 300-350°C. After this sharp weight loss, there is a gradual but constant weight loss up to 800°C. The values of kinetic parameters have been determined by using two dynamic thermogravimetric curves (TG and DTG). The data show that kinetics of wood-derived rayon fiber is similar to that of other cellulosic materials thermal degradation. Gases and tarry volatile products formed from the pyrolysis of wood-derived rayon fiber are monitored by MS. Water (m/z 18) is the predominant ion observed, followed by CO (m/z 28), CO ₂ (m/z 44) and CH₄ (m/z 16). The MS signals show that the tarry volatiles are composed of varieties of compounds. The formation reactions of primary products from the pyrolysis are discussed in detail in the present paper.