Microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis of ferulic acid, as a lignin model compound

Studies of the effect of microwave (MW) pretreatment on the pyrolysis of ferulic acid (FA), as a model compound of lignin, on the CeO 2 surface are essential for understanding the prospects for the use of MW in catalytic pyrolytic technologies for the processing of lignocellulose. In this work, FT-IR spectroscopic studies of MW-pretreated samples of FA on the nanoceria surface were carried out. Their pyrolysis was studied by temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS). It was found that monodentate carboxylate complexes of FA are most susceptible to the influence of MW. MW-pretreatment for 300 s during pyrolysis of FA on the CeO 2 surface leads to a decrease in the content of 4-vinylguaiacol in the final pyrolysis products. Phenolate complexes, as well as bidentate carboxylate complexes of FA on the CeO 2 surface are less sensitive to MW. The use of MW-pretreatment promotes an insignificant decrease in the formation of polyaromatic compounds during the FA catalytic pyrolysis.