Coniferyl alcohol from newsprint burning

Coniferyl alcohol constitutes almost half of the amount of methoxyphenols in smoke from choked burning of newsprint produced from thermomechanical pulp. The results indicate that coniferyl alcohol is a key component not only in biosynthesis but also in thermal decomposition of lignin. The trans isomer was formed in 5-10 times larger amounts than the cis isomer. Coniferyl alcohol and the oxidised analogue coniferaldehyde were also shown to be the most prominent methoxyphenols in chimney smoke from stove burning of newsprint.