CHARCOAL PRODUCTION |
About Charcoal
Charcoal is a light black residue consisting of carbon, and any
remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile
constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually
produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in
the absence of oxygen. The resulting soft, brittle, lightweight, black,
porous material resembles coal.
Uses
Charcoal has been used since earliest times for a large range of
purposes including art and medicine, but by far its most important use
has been as a metallurgical fuel. Charcoal is the traditional fuel of a
blacksmith's forge and other applications where an intense heat is
required. Charcoal was also used historically as a source of carbon
black by grinding it up. In this form charcoal was important to early
chemists and was a constituent of formulas for mixtures such as Black
Powder. Due to its high surface area charcoal can be used as a filter,
and as a catalyst or as an adsorbent. |
How charcoal is made
Waste wood from the forests and other operations and crop wastes are cut into manageable
lengths and then packed in a steel inner. The inner is then loaded into a
furnace and heated to >300C in the absence of oxygen for 8 to 12 hours.
The charcoal is allowed to cool slowly to produce a better quality
product then packed in bags of different weights and sent to markets
around the world |
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