Oxidation of carbonaceous matter—I: Elemental analysis (C,H, O) and IR spectrometry

Products of various elemental composition ($\text{1.56 ? (}\text{H}\text{C}$) at ? 0.45 and $\text{0 < (}\text{O}\text{C}$) at < 0.45) were oxidized under an air flow at various temperatures (from 150 to 280°C) and for various times (from half an hour to one week). When plotted in a Van Krevelen diagram ($\text{H}\text{C}$ vs $\text{O}\text{C}$), their elemental composition follows an oxidation path, the slope of which depends only on the original ($\text{O}\text{H}$) atomic ratio and on the oxidizing temperature. Oxidation reactions have an “apparent activation energy” of 20–40 kcal/mole. Cross-linking may be due either to ether bonding or to hydrogen bonding as indicated by IR spectrometry. The final product, named “oxychar”, has a constant composition ($\text{H}\text{C ～}\text{-}\text{O}\text{C}\text{～- 0.5}$).