Charcoal production from wood and cellulose: implications to radiocarbon dates and accelerator target production

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Radiocarbon; (United States)

OSTI ID:6721118

Leavitt, S W; Donahue, D J; Long, A

In the direct pyrolysis of wood (Juniperus monosperma) in vacuo, charcoal yields between 25% and 40% were obtained at temperatures of greater than 300 degrees C in runs of 35 minutes, and /sup 13/C fractionation as determined from the difference between the delta/sup 13/C of the wood and charcoal amounted to approximately -2.5%. Pyrolysis of holocellulose (I) to charcoal in vacuo or in a flowing Ar atm. resulted in the production of charcoal in a yield between 25% and 40% and /sup 13/C fractionation of 0.6-0.8%. Experiments on pyrolysis of I in sealed, evacuated tubes indicated that the charcoal yields of less than or equal to 60% and fractionation of approximately -0.5% were obtained at temperatures of 550-600 degrees C. Reheating of charcoal under the vacuum revealed no loss of mass and no alteration of C isotopic composition.

• Research Organization: Dept Geoscience, Univ Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
• OSTI ID: 6721118
• Journal Information: Radiocarbon; (United States), Vol. 24:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
CHARCOAL
PRODUCTION
WOOD
PYROLYSIS
CARBON 13
CELLULOSE
FRACTIONATION
ADSORBENTS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)