Dielectric relaxation of water adsorbed on wood and charcoal

Abstract

Abstract The dielectric relaxation due to motions of water molecules adsorbed on wood treated at various temperatures up to 550°C was investigated based on the relationships between activation enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) in relaxation. The relationships indicated two straight lines with different slopes, depending on the treatment temperature. Given the same ΔS, ΔH values for water molecules adsorbed on wood treated at temperatures below 400°C were greater than for those treated above 450°C. It was considered that before heat treatment, water molecules were adsorbed mainly on hydroxyl groups by strong hydrogen bonds and formed ice-like structures. On the other hand, hydroxyl groups were not detected in wood after heat treatments above 400°C. We assume that water molecules are condensed in nanometer-scale micropores that are formed during the carbonization of wood. The relationship between ΔH and ΔS for the motion of water adsorbed on wood treated above 450°C was similar to the value extrapolated from that for bulk water at temperatures below 0°C. We suggest that water molecules are adsorbed on charcoal in a supercooled state.