Microstructural characterization of white charcoal

• Published in: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis 2014-09, Vol.109, p.215-221
• Main Authors: Chia, C.H., Joseph, S.D., Rawal, A., Linser, R., Hook, J.M., Munroe, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization; Graphite; Porosity; White charcoal
• ISSN: 0165-2370; 1873-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2014.06.009

•White charcoal was synthesized using traditional Japanese methods.•Characterization was performed by a range of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.•A heavily porous structure with a high fixed C content was observed.•This material may potentially replace coke in steel processing. There has been an upsurge of interest in using high density and low volatile matter charcoal to replace coke and coal in the manufacture of aluminium and steel due to its potential to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from the production process. ‘White’ charcoal is envisaged as a potential candidate for this application. It is synthesized by pyrolysing wood at low temperature (∼240°C) for 120h, and then raising the kiln temperature to ∼1000°C towards the end of the carbonization process. The charcoal is then withdrawn and smothered with a moistened mixture of earth, sand and ash. However, to date, little is known about the structure of this form of charcoal, which is essential before this material can be widely applied in extractive metallurgy. Characterization of white charcoal with nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a high fixed carbon content (>95wt%) with ∼82at.% of the carbon present in the form of condensed aromatic rings. Scanning electron microscope analysis depicts a porous microstructure with pores ∼100μm in diameter aligned across the surface and a high density of macropores