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This work evaluates the influence of the operating conditions used in the derivatization of commercial Kraft cellulose pulp (mercerization time (1−3 h) methylation process temperature (30−60 °C), methylation process time (1−4 h), (initial pulp)/(final wet alkali pulp) ratio (S/S) (1/7−1/12), and pulp/acetone ratio (S/L) concentration (1/3−1/12)) on the obtained methylcellulose pulp characteristics such as degree of polymerization of cellulose, substitution degree, water solubility, and viscosity of the resulting pulps in order to determine the best process conditions of this pulp for its use as a thickener agent in biodegradable lubricating grease formulations. Efficient use of the raw material (i.e., obtaining a degree of polymerization with suitable substitution degree) entailed using a 2.5 h methylation time and a 45 °C methylation temperature. The substitution degree (DS) and consistency index thus obtained are only 14.5% and 36.3% respectively lower than the optimum value, and an increment of 28.6% could be obtained for the degree of polymerization. Some methylcellulose-based oleogels display rheological properties very similar to those found in traditional lubricating greases. Methylcellulose with DS values of around 0.4 produces oleogels with better mechanical properties than highly derivatized cellulose and much better than the original Kraft cellulose pulp.

Pyrolysis of alternative biomasses, which contributes to the recovery of arid soils and does not compete with alimentary biomass, could increase use of biomass as feedstock in energy production facilities. In this sense, in order to optimize this thermal process and gain better insight the origin and evolution of the main produced volatiles, nonisothermal thermogravimetry coupled to mass spectrometry (TG/MS) has been applied for samples of two biomasses [Leucaena Leucocephala (Leucaena) and Chamaecytisus Palmensis (Tagasaste)], which find application as energy crops and contribute to soil restoration. In a first stage, autocatalytic kinetics has been used in order to obtain the mass loss rate profiles (DTG) of each biomass pseudocomponent (hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and extractives) during pyrolysis. In a second stage, the experimental mass spectrometry signals of the main volatiles (CO, CO 2 , and H 2 O) have been simulated using a linear combination of the previously calculated DTG profiles. The accurate fitting obtained, explains the origin of these volatiles from a simple volatization process, mainly from lignin. In a third stage, in order to simulate the hydrogen signal, it has been necessary to consider the char produced during the volatization process. According to the model, the charring process explains close to 77 wt % of the total hydrogen obtained during pyrolysis. Considering the specific char production of each biomass pseudocomponent, it is possible to measure their individual contributions to hydrogen production: hemicellulose, 27.5; cellulose, 9.7; and lignin, 60.9 wt %, for Leucaena. Taking into account the composition of the samples, the relation between the specific hydrogen productions of the single pseudocomponents (hemicellulose:cellulose:lignin) can be calculated: 3.4:1.0:7.6.