Determination of the aromaticity and the degree of aromatic condensation of a thermosequence of wood charcoal using NMR

► Charcoal aromaticity increases quickly between 200 °C and 400 °C. ► Aromatic condensation of charcoals increases smoothly between 350 °C and 1000 °C. ► Charcoal produced above 700 °C contain PAH-like domains with >19 rings. ► NMR and BPCA analyses of charcoals give compatible results.