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Pyrolysis of wood
gatewood:
I've been producing some charcoal through wood pyrolysis for some time now, however, I've started to become intrigued with the volatilites that are given off by the wood. Does anyone understand this process and what is generally produced by such process? Do they hold any practical use?
Enthalpy:
Pyrolysis is long known, though not in every detail because so many reactants and products are involved. Wiki for instance should tell more.
The gaseous (and condensible) products include things of little value like water vapour and carbon dioxide, plus gases that can burn, for instance CO and methanol, plus dirty things like tar which are used because they're available.
The products of wood pyrolysis are similar to coal pyrolysis (but not the same). They are toxic too, and use to have even less value. I've heard of no present commercial use. But when gasoline was unavailable, some people ran their car from the gases.
gatewood:
--- Quote from: Enthalpy on February 19, 2020, 02:48:15 PM ---Pyrolysis is long known, though not in every detail because so many reactants and products are involved. Wiki for instance should tell more.
The gaseous (and condensible) products include things of little value like water vapour and carbon dioxide, plus gases that can burn, for instance CO and methanol, plus dirty things like tar which are used because they're available.
The products of wood pyrolysis are similar to coal pyrolysis (but not the same). They are toxic too, and use to have even less value. I've heard of no present commercial use. But when gasoline was unavailable, some people ran their car from the gases.
--- End quote ---
I heard that, you could extract useful hydrocarbons, such as benzene, xylene and toluene from the destructive distillation of wood and charcoal.
billnotgatez:
To get an idea of your setup,
are you treating chemistry as a hobby at home?
What kind of woods are you putting through this process?
Are you creating the charcoal like they did in the old days or do you have a more advanced setup?
Inserted below is a WIKI link to aid in the discussion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal
gatewood:
--- Quote from: billnotgatez on February 21, 2020, 10:41:36 PM ---To get an idea of your setup,
are you treating chemistry as a hobby at home?
--- End quote ---
More or less, yes (im well aware of the dangers of these chemicals). I'm wondering what kind of tar I'll get in the presence, as well as in the absence of oxygen (so im building a simple reactor).
--- Quote from: billnotgatez on February 21, 2020, 10:41:36 PM ---What kind of woods are you putting through this process?
--- End quote ---
Chloroxylon and teak.
--- Quote from: billnotgatez on February 21, 2020, 10:41:36 PM ---Are you creating the charcoal like they did in the old days or do you have a more advanced setup?
Inserted below is a WIKI link to aid in the discussion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal
--- End quote ---
Yes basically. As stated by my post, I just recently became interested in the volatilites of wood, destructive distillation, so I'm not terribly familiar with any process yet. I only know that, if I condense the gases, I'll get some wood tar that I would need to further refine (with fractional distillation), to get these chemicals in pure form.
Preparation of benzene:
https://www.brainkart.com/article/Preparation-of-benzene_36508/
Given, that is coal tar, but its not that different.
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