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.