As with all pyrolytic reactions, carbonization is a complex process in which many
reactions take place concurrently such as dehydrogenation, condensation, hydrogen
transfer and
isomerization. It differs from
coalification in that its reaction rate is faster by many orders of magnitude. The final
pyrolysis temperature applied controls the degree of carbonization and the residual content
of foreign elements, e.g. at
the carbon content of the residue exceeds a
mass fraction of 90 wt.%, whereas at
more than 99 wt.% carbon is found.