Chemical structure and ammonia adsorption ability of Todomatsu (Abies sachalinensis) wood carbonized in nitrogen and air atmospheres

Cellulose and fibers of todomatsu wood were carbonized at 250-400 degrees C for 2 hours in either air or a nitrogen atmosphere. The relationships betw een the carbonization condition of the charcoal and its adsorption behavior and chemical structure were investigated. The results obtained were as fol lows : (1) Charcoal of todomatsu wood and cellulose obtained in air adsorbed notic eably higher amounts of ammonia and alkali than charcoal obtained in nitrog en. The optimum temperature of carbonization for Todomatsu wood and cellulo se was around 300 degrees C in air, when judged from the adsorption ability of alkali and ammonia. (2) The infrared spectrum of todomatsu wood and cellulose charcoal suggeste d that noticeably higher amounts of carboxylic and lacton groups were forme d in charcoal obtained in air. (3) Charcoal obtained from todomatsu wood an d cellulose in air had higher H and O contents and lower C content in eleme ntal analysis. It can be assumed that dehydration, dehydrogenation and carb oxylation occurred below 300 degrees C in air. (4) Charcoal from cellulose showed similar behavior to charcoal from todomatsu wood as mentioned above. These results lead to the conclusion that carbonization of wood in air is e ffective for formation of acidic groups and for preparation of ammonia adso rbent, and that reaction is mainly based on pyrolysis of cellulose.