a.

) Name of Fuel: Lump Charcoal

b.) Description:
When wood is "carbonized" or "pyrolyzed" under regulated conditions in a closed environment such as a
charcoal kiln, the solid residue is called charcoal. It is one of, if not the most commonly used solid fuel
around the world.

Lump charcoal differs from briquettes in that it does not require a binder nor additives to produce. It is
composed mainly of pure carbonized wood.

c.) Properties:
Lump charcoal, in its purest form, is a black, easily combustible solid fuel that is fairly easy to produce
and difficult to contaminate. It can burn with temperatures reaching up to1000 degrees Celsius and
beyond and glows red provided there is a sufficient supply of heat and oxygen.

Depending on quality/volatile matter content, some charcoal produce smoke when burning while others
burn more cleanly.
Charcoal is friable which means it crumbles and powders when transported.

Its common contaminant is moisture which is included in the list of volatile compounds present when it
combusts. It also leaves behind ash which is the wood’s mineral content and others picked up during the
carbonization process.

d.) Extraction Methods:

There are several methods of extracting/producing lump charcoal utilizing kilns. These include:
*Earth pits – Wood is carbonized in an earth pit approximately 1-3 meters deep.
*Earth-mound kilns – Earth is used to cover the burning woodpile and gases are released in a stack.

*Brick kilns – Utilizes bricks to maintain heat. This type of kiln is sturdier than earth ones.

*Metal kilns – Mostly made of steel, these kilns are extremely sturdy and produce charcoal efficiently.
*Retort kilns – Encased in concrete, retort kilns are self-sustaining kilns once enough heat is produced.

*Drum kilns – Metal retort kilns shaped as drums. Also, self-sustaining.

While different in appearance, these kilns take advantage of what is known as the carbonization process.
Here, (preferably) dry woodcuts are heated (without air) gradually to about 400 degrees Celsius inside a
kiln in which gases (such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc.) and other complex
chemicals (methanol, acetic acid, etc.) are ejected. This continues until nothing but mostly carbonized
charcoal residue remains. Different woods can be used to produce charcoal. In the Philippines, the wood
is sourced from trees such as Ipil-Ipil, Madre de Cacao, Mangga, Bayabas, Acacia, Mahogany, and many
others.
e.) Industrial Applications:
*Charcoal is used mainly for cooking. It can also be used as a fireplace fuel for heating.

*Metallurgy. Charcoal is used in the production of many important metals such as aluminum and boron.
Due to its high carbon content, it is ideal for forging high strength steels.

Non-fuel use of charcoal:

*Agriculture. Charcoal is used as fertilizer.
*Other applications include lubricant manufacturing, black powder (explosive) manufacturing, and
activated carbon production which in itself has a whole lot of other applications in industry.