Analysis of structure and physical and chemical properties of the carbonized pine wood (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) materials - Pyrolytic behavior of pine wood dust

To extend the understanding of the pyrolysis mechanism of wood, we have investigated wood dust charcoal and condensate of volatile organic compounds (VOC) obtained during the pyrolysis of red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) at 180∼450°C using elemental analysis, IR and GC/Mass. The effect of activation process on the charcoal structure also has been studied by comparing elemental analysis and IR data of charcoal carbonated at 600°C and charcoals activated at 750°C. The results show that pyrolysis of wood has mainly started near at 240°C and its chemical components did not changed much up to 270°C. However, the element contents and IR spectra drastically changed at 300°C. The fact that IR peaks related to the aromatic ring of lignin are observed in the charcoal pyrolized at 450°C indicates that a small part of lignin still remains at this temperature. The chemical structure of the activated charcoal seems almost unaffected by the activation time.