Wood decomposition

Boddy, L. Watkinson, S. C. (1995). Wood decomposition, higher fungi, and their role in nutrient redistribution. Canadian Journal of Botany, 73 (Suppl.l), S1377-83. 

Sinsabaugh, R. L., Antibus, R. K., Linkins, A. E. et al. (1993). Wood decomposition nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in relation to extracellular enzyme activity. Ecology, 74, 1586-93. 

The Lewis and Bronsted acids lower the starting temperature of wood decomposition and charcoal formation and along with an increased char formation, diminish the yield of some volatile products of pyrolysis. The latter fact is an undesirable i enomenon if an energetic self-sufficiency in the carbonisation of wood is striven for (10), Therefore, the objective of the present investigation was to elucidate not only the effect of different available catalysts upon the yield of charcoal, but also that on the yield of volatile products. 

RA Blanchette. Wood decomposition by PheUinus (Pomes) pini A scanning electron microscopy study. Caw/Sof 58 1496-1503, 1980. 

The hatched zone reported in figure 8 is bounded by the extreme values of h determined in ref. ( ) and by the extreme values of T explored. The "fusion temperature of 739 K appears to be centrally situated inside the hatched surface. Such a fair agreement shows that the chosen kinetic law is a good approximation for wood decomposition. The "fusion temperature must then be considered to have a mean value lying roughly between 660 and 725 K for T = 773 K and between 700... 

A consequence of these conclusions is that the accurate direct determination of kinetic rate constant of wood decomposition is a difficult task, in fact impossible over wide ranges of temperatures in most of experimental devices (upper limit around about 800 K). 

Pyrolytic decomposition. Within this step the biomass macromolecules are decomposed by heat in the absence of oxygen and the volatile compounds are driven out of the biomass material due to thermal effects. The process of the pyrolytic decomposition starts at about 200 °C with the decomposition of hemicellulose, which is a part of solid biomass like wood. Decomposition of cellulose, which is another component of wood biomass takes place at temperatures of 300 °C and higher. Lignin is decomposed at even higher temperatures. During this process the volatile components of the biofuel are vaporized at temperatures below 600 °C by a set of complex... 

GeneL J-A. et al.. Response of termite eonunnnity and wood decomposition rates to habitat fragmentation in a subtropical dry forest. Trap. Ecol., 42, 35, 2001. 

It is a liquid, b,p. 363 K, but if heated it decomposes and hence must be distilled under reduced pressure decomposition may occur with explosive violence and this can occur even at room temperature if impurities are present. Combustible material, for example paper and wood, ignite spontaneously with explosive violence on contact with the acid, and it can produce painful blisters on the skin,... 

Combustion of coal and other fuels Gasification of coal, peat, wood wastes Carbonization of coal (decomposition without oxygen)... 

Solutions of these fire retardant formulations are impregnated into wood under fliU cell pressure treatment to obtain dry chemical retentions of 65 to 95 kg/m this type of treatment greatly reduces flame-spread and afterglow. These effects are the result of changed thermal decomposition reactions that favor production of carbon dioxide and water (vapor) as opposed to more flammable components (55). Char oxidation (glowing or smoldering) is also inhibited. 

Urea—formaldehyde (UF) resias commonly were used ia the past. However, because of the lack of moisture resistance and the potential for the resias to hydroly2e ia the presence of moisture and decompose iato urea and formaldehyde, they are not used as much now. Governmental regulations are under development that eliminate the use of UF resia ia wood products. This would limit the exposure of the pubHc to formaldehyde, a Hsted carciaogen, formed by the decomposition of UF resia. Today most wood products use pheaol—formaldehyde (pheaoHc) resias, but urethane-based resias are becoming more common. 

Surface area can accelerate the decomposition of chlorine dioxide up to a point, but sufficient area appears to inhibit catalytic decomposition by adsorption of the intermediates. For example, the presence of fluffed wood pulp or glass wool is reported to stop the explosive decomposition of chlorine dioxide (27). 

Vitreous, colourless form of free silica. Formed when quartz is heated to 870°C (1598°F). Aporous siliceous rock resulting from the decomposition of chertorsiliceous limestone. Used as a base in soap and scouring powders, in metal polishing, as a filtering agent, and in wood and paint fillers. A cryptocrystalline form of free silica. 

Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water No reaction Reactivity with Common Materials Can catch fire when in contact with porous materials such as wood, asbestos, cloth, soil, or rusty metals Stability During Transport Stable at ordinary temperatures, however when heated this material can decompose to nitrogen and ammonia gases. The decomposition is not generally hazardous unless it occurs in confined spaces Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics Flush with water and neutralize the resulting solution with calcium hypochlorite Polymerization Not pertinent Inhibitor of Polymerization Not pertinent. 

H. Gilman, R. G. [ones, L. A. Woods, "The Ptepatauoti of MetliylcoppCT and some Observations on tlie Decomposition of Otganocopper Compounds",/. Oig. Chim. I9S2, 17, 1630-1634. 

Wood has very useful thermal properties. Dry wood has a low thermal conductivity and a high heat capacity, and is resistant to thermal decomposition at temperatures up to 250°C for short periods of time. 

It has been proposed that wood alcohol, CH3OH, a relatively inexpensive fuel to produce, be decomposed to produce methane. Methane is a natural gas commonly used for heating homes. Is foe decomposition of wood... 

Bis(tributyltin) oxide is known to break down to inorganic tin under UV irradiation in laboratory conditions (509, 510), and the decomposition may be accelerated by absorbing the organotin compound on a cel-lulosic matrix (511). As bis(tributyltin) oxide is known to react rapidly with carbon dioxide (atmospheric, or trapped in various cellulosic materials, such as cotton or wood) (512), to form bis(tributyltin) carbonate, (BusSnO)2CO, the observed UV degradation pattern may be rationalized in terms of more-ready breakdown of the carbonate than of the oxide, due to the presence of the carbonyl chromophore. The half-life of bis(tributyltin) oxide in pond water has recently been given as 16 days (513). Diorganotin compounds have also been shown to decompose to inorganic tin under UV irradiation (514, 515). 

Batt RD, DD Woods (1961) Decomposition of pyrimidines by Nocardia corallina. J Gen Microbiol 24 207-224. 

Wood Hill (1991b) induced phase-separation in the clear glasses by heating them at temperatures above their transition temperatures. They found evidence for amorphous phase-separation (APS) prior to the formation of crystallites. Below the first exotherm, APS appeared to take place by spinodal decomposition so that the glass had an intercoimected structure (Cahn, 1961). At higher temperatures the microstructure consisted of distinct droplets in a matrix phase. 

---