Question

Charcoal is produced by slow heating of biomass(wood generally) in absence of oxygen. How does this process make charcoal a better biomass than wood?

• A. Heating increases the mass of the wood
• B. Heating decreases the water content and other impurities in wood
• C. Heating converts wood into petroleum
• D. Heating converts wood into powder which burns better than solid wood

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Heating decreases the water content and other impurities in wood

Charcoal is mostly pure carbon, called char, made by burning wood in a low oxygen environment (pyrolysis), a process that can take days and burns off volatile compounds such as water, methane, hydrogen, and tar. In commercial processing, the burning takes place in large concrete or steel silos with very little oxygen and stops before it all turns to ash. The process leaves black lumps and powder, about 25% of the original weight which burns better than wood.