Pyroligneous acid—the smoky acidic liquid from plant biomass

Abstract

Pyroligneous acid (PA) is a complex highly oxygenated aqueous liquid fraction obtained by the condensation of pyrolysis vapors, which result from the thermochemical breakdown or pyrolysis of plant biomass components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. PA produced by the slow pyrolysis of plant biomass is a yellowish brown or dark brown liquid with acidic pH and usually comprises a complex mixture of guaiacols, catechols, syringols, phenols, vanillins, furans, pyrans, carboxaldehydes, hydroxyketones, sugars, alkyl aryl ethers, nitrogenated derivatives, alcohols, acetic acid, and other carboxylic acids. The phenolic components, namely guaiacol, alkyl guaiacols, syringol, and alkyl syringols, contribute to the smoky odor of PA. PA finds application in diverse areas, as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, plant growth stimulator, coagulant for natural rubber, and termiticidal and pesticidal agent; is a source for valuable chemicals; and imparts a smoky flavor for food.

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

“…PLAs are a complex mixture of organic compounds of varying biological and phytological activity, including toxicity. These include organic acids (e.g., acetic acid), phenols, ketones phenyl ethers, and furan and pyran derivatives (Mathew and Zakaria, 2015;Wei et al, 2010). The survival and equivalent growth of marigold seedlings transplanted into pH adjusted substrates with no seed germination (50-70% BC) suggests greater sensitivity of seeds than seedlings to PLA effects and is consistent with previous findings of PLA inhibition of germination (e.g., Buss and Mašek, 2014;Rombolà et al, 2015).…”

Antioxidant property and chemical profile of pyroligneous acid from pineapple plant waste biomass

“…Pyroligneous acid (PA) or wood vinegar is a brownish yellow acidic liquid comprising a complex mixture of phenolics namely guaiacols, dihydroxybenzenes, syringols, cresols, phenol as well as furans, pyrans, alkyl aryl ethers, carboxaldehydes, hydroxyketones, sugars and carboxylic acids [1][2][3].…”

Fractionation of Pyroligneous Acid: The First Step for the Recovery of Levoglucosan

“…PA is obtained by the condensation of pyrolysis vapor, which is a by-product of making charcoal (Mathew and Zakaria 2015). The composition of PA is very complicated, including complex mixtures of acids, phenols, sugars, furan and pyran derivatives, ketones, aldehydes, and other carboxylic acids (Mathew and Zakaria 2015). These components mainly originate from the decomposition of cellulose (40 to 50%), hemicellulose (20 to 30%), and lignin (10 to 25%) (Vitasari et al 2011).…”

“…PA is obtained by the condensation of pyrolysis vapor, which is a by-product of making charcoal (Mathew and Zakaria 2015). The composition of PA is very complicated, including complex mixtures of acids, phenols, sugars, furan and pyran derivatives, ketones, aldehydes, and other carboxylic acids (Mathew and Zakaria 2015).…”