The Art, Science, and Technology of Charcoal Production

Author: 
Tom Miles

The Art, Science, and Technology of Charcoal Production
Michael Jerry Antal, Jr., Morten Gronli, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 42 (8), 1619 -1640, 2003. 10.1021/ie0207919 S0888-5885(02)00791-1 Web Release Date: March 14, 2003

Abstract:

In this review, we summarize the knowledge of the production and properties of charcoal that has been accumulated over the past 38 millenia. The manipulation of pressure, moisture content, and gas flow enables biomass carbonization with fixed-carbon yields that approach-or attain-the theoretical limit after reaction times of a few tens of minutes. Much of the heat needed to carbonize the feed is released by vigorous, exothermic secondary reactions that reduce the formation of unwanted tars by augmenting the charcoal yield in a well-designed carbonizer. As a renewable fuel, charcoal has many attractive features: it contains virtually no sulfur or mercury and is low in nitrogen and ash; it is highly reactive yet easy to store and handle. Carbonized charcoal can be a good adsorbent with a large surface area and a semimetal with an electrical resistivity comparable to that of graphite. Recent advances in knowledge about the production and properties of charcoal presage its expanded use as a renewable fuel, reductant, adsorbent, and soil amendment.

Contents
Introduction
Charcoal Properties and Yields
Effects of Thermal Pretreatments, Heating Rate, and Final (Peak) Temperature
Thermal Pretreatments
Heating Rate
Peak Temperature
Carbonization
Effects of the Gas Environment
Moisture
Vapor-Phase Residence Time
Pressure
Effects of Feedstock Properties
Reactivity
Pyrophoricity
Chemisorption
Ignition
Combustion
Industrial Processes
Conclusions

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