Example 11
This example demonstrates the effect of oxygen levels on the mass yield of biogenic reagent.
Two samples of hardwood sawdust (4.0 g) were each placed in a quartz tube. The quartz tube was then placed into a tube furnace (Lindberg Model 55035). The gas flow was set to 2,000 ccm. One sample was exposed to 100% nitrogen atmosphere, while the other sample was subjected to a gas flow comprising 96% nitrogen and 4% oxygen. The furnace temperature was set to 290° C. Upon reaching 290° C. (approximately 20 minutes), the temperature was held at 290° C. for 10 minutes, at which time the heat source was shut off, and the tube and furnace allowed to cool for 10 minutes. The tubes were removed from the furnace (gas still flowing at 2,000 ccm). Once the tubes and samples were cool enough to process, the gases were shut off, and the pyrolyzed material removed and weighed (Table 12).
