Effect of formation conditions on biochars: Compositional and structural properties of cellulose, lignin, and pine biochars

► Effects of formation conditions on physical and chemical properties of biochar. ► Cellulose, lignin, pine charred under inert atmosphere at various times and temperatures. ► Mass loss, elemental composition (C, H, and O), FTIR, NMR spectra compared. ► Aliphatic components either lost or converted to aromatic carbon early in charring. ► Oxygen lost more rapidly than carbon during charring.