W2C/AC catalysts with different tungsten loadings were prepared by using the activated carbon (AC) as the carrier. These catalysts were mechanically mixed with the pine milled wood lignin (MWL) for Py-GC/MS (pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) experiments to investigate the catalytic effects of tungsten loading and catalyst-to-MWL ratio on the distribution of pyrolytic products. Moreover

the actual yields of major pyrolytic products (aromatic hydrocarbons and phenolics) were quantitatively determined by the external standard method. The results indicated that the W2C/AC catalyst could promote the pyrolytic depolymerization of MWL to generate momocyclic phenolic compounds. Furthermore

it could catalyze the decarbonylation

demethoxylation

dehydroxylation and hydrogenation reactions of phenolic compounds to form stable phenolics (without the carbonyl group

methoxyl group and unsaturated C=C bond) and aromatic hydrocarbons. Among the four W2C/AC catalysts

the 10%-W2C/AC possessed the best catalytic capability. The maximal yield of total pyrolytic products was obtained at the catalyst-to-MWL ratio of 5

and the total yields of aromatic hydrocarbons and phenolics at this condition reached 102.1 mg·g-1 and 191.1 mg·g-1

compared with the values of 21.2 mg·g-1 and 151.0 mg·g-1 in the absence of the catalyst.