Pyrolysis, biomass definition

What are unambiguous ways to study biomass composition and its relationship to pyrolysis rate and products Are traditional, operational definitions of composition such as cellulose, Klason or Kraft lignin, and extractives weight fraction useful What other composition metrics are useful especially as under-utilized or transgenic biomass species are examined ... 

Biomass is composed of various components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives and mineral water. The composition of biomass plays a definitive role in altering the product distribution and their properties [2-3J. As is shown in earlier publications [4-S] different biomass, on pyrolysis, give different product yield with different product properties. In order to choose a biomass for a particular process (carbonisation, liquefaction, gasification or adsorbent char) knowledge on the product distribution and properties for various biomass are essential. 

Definition of Pyrolysis. The word pyrolysis has had some problems in definition, especially when applied to biomass. The older literature generally equates pyrolysis to carbonization, in which the principal product is a solid char. Today, the term pyrolysis is generally used to describe processes in which liquid oils are preferred products. This symposium was concerned with the latter pyrolysis - processes which offer enhanced yields of liquid oils, especially those with desirable chemical compositions and physical attributes for liquid fuels, fuel supplements and chemical feedstocks. 

Lede, J., 2010. Biomass pyrolysis comments on some sources of confusions in the definitions of temperatures and heating rates. Energies 3 (4), 886. 

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