How To Make Charcoal Step By Step?

Charcoal is a common source of carbon, and its formation process involves the pyrolysis and carbonisation of wood. Under oxygen-deprived conditions, wood undergoes pyrolysis, releasing water vapour and volatile organic gases, ultimately forming charcoal. This process not only reveals the physical properties of charcoal but also helps us understand the principles behind its production. Charcoal primarily consists of carbon, with a very low ash content. Charcoal has a higher reducing capacity than coke. Charcoal contains a large number of microporous and transitional pores. It not only has a high specific surface area but also exhibits excellent adsorption properties after the tar-like substances within the pores are removed.
 

Principle Of Charcoal Making

Dehydration stage

During the preheating stage, the free water and bound water in the wood begin to evaporate. The temperature inside the furnace gradually rises above 100°C, thereby completing the dehydration of the wood.

Pyrolysis Sage

As the temperature continues to rise, it reaches 200–350°C. The wood undergoes complex chemical reactions, known as pyrolysis. During the entire pyrolysis process, the large molecular compounds in the wood, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, decompose into small molecular gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, etc.), wood tar, and other liquid products.

Carbonisation Stage

When the furnace temperature exceeds 400°C, the gases and small molecules produced during pyrolysis gradually burn, leaving behind solid carbon products, i.e., charcoal. The carbonisation stage is critical for charcoal formation.

Calcination And Cooling

To enhance charcoal quality and stability, the material is typically calcined at high temperatures for an extended period to ensure material properties. It is then slowly cooled to reduce internal stress and prevent cracking.

Charcoal Making Process

Material selection and processing

First, select wood with a dense texture and high oil content as raw material. Examples include hardwood, oak, maple, and jujube wood. Cut the wood into appropriately sized blocks to facilitate subsequent pyrolysis and carbonisation.

Wood Drying

The wood is dried under natural conditions or using a dryer to reduce moisture content. This minimises energy consumption and time during pyrolysis.

Loading the Carbonisation Furnace and Ignition

The dried wood is loaded into a horizontal carbonisation furnace and stacked in a specific arrangement. A small amount of wood is added to the combustion chamber to initiate the pyrolysis process. Subsequently, the heat generated by the wood itself is used to maintain the high-temperature environment inside the carbonisation furnace.

Charcoal removal and cooling

Wait until the temperature inside the furnace reaches a safe level. Open the furnace door to remove the charcoal and allow it to cool naturally.

Sorting And Grading

Sort and grade the finished charcoal based on its size, density, and quality to meet the requirements of different applications.

Notes on the Charcoal Production Process

The design and construction of the carbonisation furnace directly affect the quality of the finished charcoal. Factors such as production efficiency and safety must be considered to ensure a smooth production process.

Throughout the carbonisation process, proper ventilation must be maintained to prevent oxygen-deficient combustion and the accumulation of harmful gases.

The quality of charcoal is influenced by various factors, including raw material type, carbonisation time, pyrolysis conditions, and cooling methods. Technical process parameters must be continuously optimised and adjusted during actual production.

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