Just incase you don't know what am referring to, am talking about it, yes that burning stuff in the image above, charcoal. Don't tell me you haven't seen it before - haven't you made barbecue before? Oh well, I wouldn't blame you if you haven't seen it; am sure you've lived all your life in the city.
Just finished burning wood? Don't throw them away, they are actually useful. How? Want to know? Then keep reading.
Before we get too serious and all that, let me define charcoal. Our dear Wikipedia defines charcoal as:
As that light weight black carbon and ash residue produced by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances
Not the regular definition you expected. Well another source defines charcoal as:
Carbon obtained by burning or heating of wood in the absence of oxygen
Probably what you were expecting, right?
Short History
The burning of wood to obtain charcoal dates back to the iron age. Often involving the piling of wood and covering with turf or moist clay. The burning usually started from the bottom of the pile and spread upwards and outwards. When the fire dies out, charcoal was obtained.
It was real business back then and still is in so many areas around the world. It's still practiced in some areas in my country Nigeria. A lot people invest their time and energy for the mass production of charcoal as it is highly useful in so many fields like art, medicine even horticulture as we will get to see.
Though this act has come with its own environmental implications like deforestation, desert encroachment and others, I won't base my post on this.
Okay let's explore some areas that charcoal has proven useful
Charcoal in Art
Artist most especially appreciate charcoal alot. Charcoal is used in drawing, making rough sketches in painting and writing. I won't be surprised that the famous painting "Mona Lisa" was sketched with charcoal first. Just see how beautiful charcoal drawing can be
Charcoal is used in alot of art techniques such as hatching, blending, rubbing, lifting etc. Artists use it so much that they call it "artist charcoal". The charcoals are even used to make charcoal pencils consisting of compressed charcoal in hollow wood.
Charcoal in Medicine
Charcoals play important roles even in medicine. Ordinary charcoals gotten from burning of wood contains toxins and chemicals harmful to health when consumed. But when activated they are non toxic. Activated charcoal is made by heating normal charcoal with hot gases that make it develop pores or spaces.
Activated charcoal is used to treat drug overdose and poisoning. In case of poisoning mix activated charcoal with water and consume. Intake of activated charcoal is not meant to replace medical care but can be used before proper medical treatment. Research have shown that activated charcoal could be used to relieve gas and bloating, acne treatment and others.
Charcoal in Purification and Filtration
Activated charcoal is used in the purification of water in water boards by the process of adsorption. The impurities cling or adhere to the porous holes or spaces in the charcoal.
Charcoal is also used in nose masks to filter air by absorbing the poisonous gases present in the air. This is essentially important in accidents such as fire outbreaks as the nose mask would prevent suffocation from smoke.
Charcoal in Horticulture
Horticulturist use charcoal to improve the richness of the soil they use in their gardens. Charcoal is also known to improve the pH level of the soil, increase the retention of water and nutrients in the soil.
Horticultural charcoal as they like to call it is different from activated charcoal and is just charcoal in its purest form
Charcoal as Fuel
Charcoal burns with temperature up to 2700 °C and for this reason they are used by black Smith's to forge their crafts. Charcoas are also used by industries as fuel in processes such as fractional distillation and extraction of metals from their ores.
Charcoals are not only used by black Smith's and industries as fuel, so many people in areas without electricity supply use charcoal as fuel for their cooking, ironing and so much more.
So when next you are done cooking, barbecuing, or burning that wood don't throw away the charcoal but rather give it out to someone who needs it or think of a way to put it to good use.
Thanks for Sticking around and Reading. Until next time. With this post I close the year 2017 and wish all steemians a Happy New Year in Advance. Remain Blessed.
Reference:
Image Credit:
- Image 1 from pixabay.com
- Image 2 from fartroad.blogspot.com
- Image 3 from freeofdisease.com
- Image 4 from Green Man Char
