A pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry study of volatile compounds produced by wood-based materials

The pyrolysis by-products of five common wood-based construction materials (low-density wood fiberboard, oriented strand board, pine, particle board, and plywood) were studied using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Samples of wood-based materials were pyrolyzed under helium from 300 to 800°C to further understand the production of compounds that may become airborne and available for respiratory and dermal exposure. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, styrene, and naphthalene were specifically targeted since these compounds are common by-products of pyrolysis. These compounds have been measured in previous live fire scenarios and are associated with human health concerns. The generated pyrolysates were separated and identified with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry instrument. The results from total ion chromatograms and selected ion monitoring chromatograms were analyzed to compare the abundance of chemicals of interest generated during pyrolysis. Oriented strand board and plywood generated the greatest total concentration of the targeted volatile organic compounds. Plywood and particle boards generated the largest variety in results. Samples from solid pine boards generated the smallest number of volatile compounds, followed by low-density wood fiberboard that is manufactured with wood fibers, starch, and wax. Notably, pyrolysis by-products are not the sole compounds generated during the combustion of biomass and these products evolve when they are exposed to the conditions of combustion. Our future work plans to study the combustion by-products of these materials.