The diverse utilization of pyrolysis liquid is closely related to its chemical compositions. Several factors affect PA compositions during the preparation. In this study, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to assess PA compositions data obtained from published paper and experimental data. Results showed the chemical constituents were not significantly different in different feedstock materials. Acids and phenolics contents were 31.96% (CI: 25.30−38.62) and 26.50% (CI: 21.43−31.57), respectively, accounting for 58.46% (CI: 46.72−70.19) of the total relative contents. When pyrolysis temperatures range increased to above 350 °C, acids and ketones contents decreased by more than 5.2-fold and 1.53-fold, respectively, whereas phenolics content increased by more than 2.1-fold, and acetic acid content was the highest, reaching 34.16% (CI: 25.55−42.78). Correlation analysis demonstrated a significantly negative correlation between acids and phenolics (r2 = −0.43, p < 0.001) and significantly positive correlation between ketones and alcohols (r2 = 0.26, p < 0.05). The pyrolysis temperatures had a negative linear relationship with acids (slope = −0.07, r2 = 0.16, p < 0.001) and aldehydes (slope = −0.02, r2 = 0.09, p < 0.05) and positive linear relationship with phenolics (slope = 0.04, r2 = 0.07, p < 0.05). This study provides a theoretical reference of PA application.
Keywords: acetic acids; multivariate statistical analysis; phenolics; pyrolysis liquid; pyrolysis temperature.