This process happens naturally when combustion is incomplete, and is sometimes used in radiocarbon dating. It also happens inadvertently while burning wood, as in a fireplace or wood stove. The visible flame in these is due to combustion of the volatile gases exuded as the wood turns into charcoal. The soot and smoke commonly given off by wood fires result from incomplete combustion of those volatiles. Charcoal burns at a higher temperature than wood, with hardly a visible flame, and releases almost nothing except heat and carbon dioxide. One kilogram of charcoal contains 680 to 820 grams of carbon, which, when combined with oxygen from the atmosphere, form 2.5 to 3 kg of carbon dioxide.

Advantages of our production:
– Charcoal is produced from hard wood
– Less of smoke escapes during the burning
– Burning passes slowly and at a steady pace
– Chemical additives are not used in charcoal’s production;
– Substance management and final good inspection are always made;

Technical characteristics of charcoal:
– Solid carbon content – no less than 85 %;
– Ash content = 5 %;
– Moisture = 8 %;
– Firebrands are prohibited

The production of wood charcoal in locations where there is an abundance of wood dates back to ancient times. It generally begins with piling billets of wood on their ends to form a conical pile. Openings are left at the bottom to admit air, with a central shaft serving as a fuel. The whole pile is covered with turf or moistened clay. The firing is begun at the bottom of the flue, and gradually spreads outward and upward. The success of the operation depends upon the rate of the combustion. Under average conditions wood yields about 60% charcoal by volume, or 25% by weight; small-scale production methods often yield only about 50% by volume, while large-scale methods enabled higher yields of about 90% by the 17th century. The operation is so delicate that it was generally left to colliers (professional charcoal burners). They often lived alone in small huts to tend their wood piles. For example, in the Harz Mountains of Germany, charcoal burners lived in conical huts called Köten which are extant today.
An abandoned charcoal kiln near Walker, Arizona, USA.

Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. In the traditional version of this pyrolysis process, called charcoal burning, often by forming a charcoal kiln, the heat is supplied by burning part of the starting material itself, with a limited supply of oxygen. The material can also be heated in a closed retort. Modern “charcoal” briquettes used for outdoor cooking may contain many other additives, e.g. coal.

This process happens naturally when combustion is incomplete, and is sometimes used in radiocarbon dating. It also happens inadvertently while burning wood, as in a fireplace or wood stove. The visible flame in these is due to combustion of the volatile gases exuded as the wood turns into charcoal. The soot and smoke commonly given off by wood fires result from incomplete combustion of those volatiles. Charcoal burns at a higher temperature than wood, with hardly a visible flame, and releases almost nothing except heat and carbon dioxide. One kilogram of charcoal contains 680 to 820 grams of carbon, which, when combined with oxygen from the atmosphere, form 2.5 to 3 kg of carbon dioxide.

Advantages of our production:
– Charcoal is produced from hard wood
– Less of smoke escapes during the burning
– Burning passes slowly and at a steady pace
– Chemical additives are not used in charcoal’s production;
– Substance management and final good inspection are always made;

Technical characteristics of charcoal:
– Solid carbon content – no less than 85 %;
– Ash content = 5 %;
– Moisture = 8 %;
– Firebrands are prohibited

The production of wood charcoal in locations where there is an abundance of wood dates back to ancient times. It generally begins with piling billets of wood on their ends to form a conical pile. Openings are left at the bottom to admit air, with a central shaft serving as a fuel. The whole pile is covered with turf or moistened clay. The firing is begun at the bottom of the flue, and gradually spreads outward and upward. The success of the operation depends upon the rate of the combustion. Under average conditions wood yields about 60% charcoal by volume, or 25% by weight; small-scale production methods often yield only about 50% by volume, while large-scale methods enabled higher yields of about 90% by the 17th century. The operation is so delicate that it was generally left to colliers (professional charcoal burners). They often lived alone in small huts to tend their wood piles. For example, in the Harz Mountains of Germany, charcoal burners lived in conical huts called Köten which are extant today.
An abandoned charcoal kiln near Walker, Arizona, USA

 Black charcoal
Ogatan is a more recent type made from hardened sawdust.
Pillow shaped briquettes are made by compressing charcoal, typically made from sawdust and other wood by-products, with a binder and other additives. The binder is usually starch. Briquettes may also include brown coal (heat source), mineral carbon (heat source), borax, sodium nitrate (ignition aid), limestone (ash-whitening agent), raw sawdust (ignition aid), and other additives.
Sawdust briquette charcoal is made by compressing sawdust without binders or additives. It is the preferred charcoal in Taiwan, Korea, Greece, and the Middle East. It has a round hole through the center, with a hexagonal intersection. It is used primarily for barbecue as it produces no odour, no smoke, little ash, high heat, and long burning hours (exceeding 4 hours).
Extruded charcoal is made by extruding either raw ground wood or carbonized wood into logs without the use of a binder. The heat and pressure of the extruding process hold the charcoal together. If the extrusion is made from raw wood material, the extruded logs are subsequently carbonized.

Uses
Grill charcoal made from coconut shell
Charcoal has been used since earliest times for a large range of purposes including art and medicine, but by far its most important use has been as a metallurgical fuel. Charcoal is the traditional fuel of a blacksmith’s forge and other applications where an intense heat is required. Charcoal was also used historically as a source of black pigment by grinding it up. In this form charcoal was important to early chemists and was a constituent of formulas for mixtures such as black powder. Due to its high surface area charcoal can be used as a filter, and as a catalyst or as an adsorbent.

Metallurgical fuel
Charcoal burns at temperatures exceeding 1,100 degrees Celsius (2,010 degrees Fahrenheit). 10] By comparison, the melting point of iron is approximately 1,200 to 1,550 °C (2,190 to 2,820 °F). Due to its porosity, it is sensitive to the flow of air and the heat generated can be moderated by controlling the air flow to the fire. For this reason charcoal is still widely used by blacksmiths. Charcoal has been used for the production of iron since Roman times and steel in modern times where it also provided the necessary carbon. Charcoal briquettes can burn up to approximately 1,260 °C (2,300 °F) with a forced air blower forge.

In the 16th century, England had to pass laws to prevent the country from becoming completely denuded of trees due to production of iron.  In the 19th century charcoal was largely replaced by coke in steel production due to cost, even though coke usually adds sulphur and sometimes other deleterious contaminants to the pig iron. Wooded metallurgical regions devoid of coal like Sweden, the Urals, or Siberia transitioned from charcoal in the early 20th century.

 Black charcoal
Ogatan is a more recent type made from hardened sawdust.
Pillow shaped briquettes are made by compressing charcoal, typically made from sawdust and other wood by-products, with a binder and other additives. The binder is usually starch. Briquettes may also include brown coal (heat source), mineral carbon (heat source), borax, sodium nitrate (ignition aid), limestone (ash-whitening agent), raw sawdust (ignition aid), and other additives.
Sawdust briquette charcoal is made by compressing sawdust without binders or additives. It is the preferred charcoal in Taiwan, Korea, Greece, and the Middle East. It has a round hole through the center, with a hexagonal intersection. It is used primarily for barbecue as it produces no odour, no smoke, little ash, high heat, and long burning hours (exceeding 4 hours).
Extruded charcoal is made by extruding either raw ground wood or carbonized wood into logs without the use of a binder. The heat and pressure of the extruding process hold the charcoal together. If the extrusion is made from raw wood material, the extruded logs are subsequently carbonized.

Uses
Grill charcoal made from coconut shell
Charcoal has been used since earliest times for a large range of purposes including art and medicine, but by far its most important use has been as a metallurgical fuel. Charcoal is the traditional fuel of a blacksmith’s forge and other applications where an intense heat is required. Charcoal was also used historically as a source of black pigment by grinding it up. In this form charcoal was important to early chemists and was a constituent of formulas for mixtures such as black powder. Due to its high surface area charcoal can be used as a filter, and as a catalyst or as an adsorbent.

Metallurgical fuel
Charcoal burns at temperatures exceeding 1,100 degrees Celsius (2,010 degrees Fahrenheit). 10] By comparison, the melting point of iron is approximately 1,200 to 1,550 °C (2,190 to 2,820 °F). Due to its porosity, it is sensitive to the flow of air and the heat generated can be moderated by controlling the air flow to the fire. For this reason charcoal is still widely used by blacksmiths. Charcoal has been used for the production of iron since Roman times and steel in modern times where it also provided the necessary carbon. Charcoal briquettes can burn up to approximately 1,260 °C (2,300 °F) with a forced air blower forge.

In the 16th century, England had to pass laws to prevent the country from becoming completely denuded of trees due to production of iron.  In the 19th century charcoal was largely replaced by coke in steel production due to cost, even though coke usually adds sulphur and sometimes other deleterious contaminants to the pig iron. Wooded metallurgical regions devoid of coal like Sweden, the Urals, or Siberia transitioned from charcoal in the early 20th century.

Pyrotechnics
Charcoal is used in the production of black powder, which is used extensively in the production of fireworks. It is usually ground into a fine powder, with airfloat grade being the finest particle size available commercially. When used in black powder compositions, it is often ball-milled with other ingredients so that they are intimately mixed together. Certain charcoals perform better when used to make black powder, these include spruce, willow, paulownia and grapevine among others.  Charcoal produces fine dark orange/golden sparks. Usually, powder with a mesh size from 10 to 325 is used to obtain showers of golden sparks in pyrotechnic compositions.

Cosmetic use of bamboo charcoal
Charcoal is also incorporated in multiple cosmetic products. It can be produced from regular bamboo cut into small pieces and boiled in water to remove soluble compounds. Raw bamboo charcoal is obtained after drying and carbonization in an oven at elevated temperature. The role of charcoal in cosmetics is based on its highly effective absorbing properties at a microscopic scale.

Carbon source
Charcoal may be used as a source of carbon in chemical reactions. One example of this is the production of carbon disulphide through the reaction of sulfur vapors with hot charcoal. In that case, the wood should be charred at high temperature to reduce the residual amounts of hydrogen and oxygen that lead to side reactions.

Purification and filtration
Activated carbon
Charcoal for dehumidification and air purification in bathroom
Charcoal may be activated to increase its effectiveness as a filter. Activated charcoal readily adsorbs a wide range of organic compounds dissolved or suspended in gases and liquids. In certain industrial processes, such as the purification of sucrose from cane sugar, impurities cause an undesirable color, which can be removed with activated charcoal. It is also used to absorb odors and toxins in gases, such as air. Charcoal filters are also used in some types of gas masks. The medical use of activated charcoal is mainly the absorption of poisons. Activated charcoal is available without a prescription, so it is used for a variety of health-related applications. For example, it is often used to reduce discomfort and embarrassment due to excessive gas (flatulence) in the digestive tract.

Animal charcoal or bone black is the carbonaceous residue obtained by the dry distillation of bones. It contains only about 10% carbon, the remaining being calcium and magnesium phosphates (80%) and other inorganic material originally present in the bones. It is generally manufactured from the residues obtained in the glue and gelatin industries. Its decolorizing power was applied in 1812 by Derosne to the clarification of the syrups obtained in sugar refining; but its use in this direction has now greatly diminished, owing to the introduction of more active and easily managed reagents. It is still used to some extent in laboratory practice. The decolorizing power is not permanent, becoming lost after using for some time; it may be revived, however, by washing and reheating. Wood charcoal removes some coloring material from solutions, but animal charcoal is generally more effective.

Art
Four sticks of vine charcoal and four sticks of compressed charcoal
Two charcoal pencils in paper sheaths that are unwrapped as the pencil is used, and two charcoal pencils in wooden sheaths
Main article: Charcoal (art)

Charcoal is used for drawing, making rough sketches in painting, and is one of the possible media used for making a parsemage. It usually must be preserved by the application of a fixative. Artists generally utilize charcoal in four forms:

    Vine charcoal is created by burning grape vines.
Willow charcoal is created by burning sticks.
Powdered charcoal is often used to “tone” or cover large sections of a drawing surface. Drawing over the toned areas darkens it further, but the artist can also lighten (or completely erase) within the toned area to create lighter tones.
Compressed charcoal is charcoal powder mixed with gum binder and compressed into sticks. The amount of binder determines the hardness of the stick. Compressed charcoal is used in charcoal pencils.

Pyrotechnics
Charcoal is used in the production of black powder, which is used extensively in the production of fireworks. It is usually ground into a fine powder, with airfloat grade being the finest particle size available commercially. When used in black powder compositions, it is often ball-milled with other ingredients so that they are intimately mixed together. Certain charcoals perform better when used to make black powder, these include spruce, willow, paulownia and grapevine among others.  Charcoal produces fine dark orange/golden sparks. Usually, powder with a mesh size from 10 to 325 is used to obtain showers of golden sparks in pyrotechnic compositions.

Cosmetic use of bamboo charcoal
Charcoal is also incorporated in multiple cosmetic products. It can be produced from regular bamboo cut into small pieces and boiled in water to remove soluble compounds. Raw bamboo charcoal is obtained after drying and carbonization in an oven at elevated temperature. The role of charcoal in cosmetics is based on its highly effective absorbing properties at a microscopic scale.

Carbon source
Charcoal may be used as a source of carbon in chemical reactions. One example of this is the production of carbon disulphide through the reaction of sulfur vapors with hot charcoal. In that case, the wood should be charred at high temperature to reduce the residual amounts of hydrogen and oxygen that lead to side reactions.

Purification and filtration
Activated carbon
Charcoal for dehumidification and air purification in bathroom
Charcoal may be activated to increase its effectiveness as a filter. Activated charcoal readily adsorbs a wide range of organic compounds dissolved or suspended in gases and liquids. In certain industrial processes, such as the purification of sucrose from cane sugar, impurities cause an undesirable color, which can be removed with activated charcoal. It is also used to absorb odors and toxins in gases, such as air. Charcoal filters are also used in some types of gas masks. The medical use of activated charcoal is mainly the absorption of poisons. Activated charcoal is available without a prescription, so it is used for a variety of health-related applications. For example, it is often used to reduce discomfort and embarrassment due to excessive gas (flatulence) in the digestive tract.

Animal charcoal or bone black is the carbonaceous residue obtained by the dry distillation of bones. It contains only about 10% carbon, the remaining being calcium and magnesium phosphates (80%) and other inorganic material originally present in the bones. It is generally manufactured from the residues obtained in the glue and gelatin industries. Its decolorizing power was applied in 1812 by Derosne to the clarification of the syrups obtained in sugar refining; but its use in this direction has now greatly diminished, owing to the introduction of more active and easily managed reagents. It is still used to some extent in laboratory practice. The decolorizing power is not permanent, becoming lost after using for some time; it may be revived, however, by washing and reheating. Wood charcoal removes some coloring material from solutions, but animal charcoal is generally more effective.

Art
Four sticks of vine charcoal and four sticks of compressed charcoal
Two charcoal pencils in paper sheaths that are unwrapped as the pencil is used, and two charcoal pencils in wooden sheaths
Main article: Charcoal (art)

Charcoal is used for drawing, making rough sketches in painting, and is one of the possible media used for making a parsemage. It usually must be preserved by the application of a fixative. Artists generally utilize charcoal in four forms:

    Vine charcoal is created by burning grape vines.
Willow charcoal is created by burning sticks.
Powdered charcoal is often used to “tone” or cover large sections of a drawing surface. Drawing over the toned areas darkens it further, but the artist can also lighten (or completely erase) within the toned area to create lighter tones.
Compressed charcoal is charcoal powder mixed with gum binder and compressed into sticks. The amount of binder determines the hardness of the stick. Compressed charcoal is used in charcoal pencils.

The post Charcoal first appeared on Simple Solution Nigeria.

Kpomo is the outer part of a cow that is processed to be prepared and consumed as meat. In this article, we will shed more light on the nutritional value and health benefits of Kpomo.

Nutritional Value :

Kpomo, like other regular meats, contains low protein. It has a moderate level of fats, fiber, collagen, and carbohydrates.

Here’s a breakdown of nutrients in 100g of boiled, thick cow skin:

    224.65 calories of energy,
6.80g of carbohydrate
43.9g of water
46.9g of protein
1.09g of fat
0.02g of fibre.
Calcium (61mg)
Iron (4.3mg)
Magnesium (12mg)
Phosphorus (36mg)
Zinc (6.79mg).

Health Benefits of Kpomo

1. Great for weight loss
Kpomo has a low level of calories, and this helps in losing excess weight. One piece of kpomo has only 47 calories. Reducing your consumption of calories will reduce your energy intake and also help you lose weight.

2. Good source of zinc
Kpomo contains zinc which is one of the essential minerals needed for the proper functioning of the body. Zinc deficiency can lead to hair loss, weight loss, eye problems, and diarrhea.

Zinc is essential for the proper development and function of the male sex organs. It is also involved in the activities of almost all enzymes that take part in digestion, metabolism, muscle and nerve function, and other activities in the body.

3. Aids development of strong bones and teeth
Kpomo contains calcium and phosphorus, which are essential minerals needed for the development of strong bones and teeth. Calcium is needed by the body for the development of strong bones and teeth because all calcium in the body is stored in the bones and teeth. It gives the bones and teeth their structures and hardness.

Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body. It is also needed for the proper development of strong bones and teeth because almost all the phosphorus in the body is stored in the bones and teeth.

4. Great source of dietary fiber
Kpomo contains dietary fibers that aid digestion and proper bowel movements. It helps in improving cholesterol and blood levels. It also helps in preventing diseases such as heart disease, bowel cancer, and diabetes.

5. Regulates muscle and nerve function
Kpomo contains magnesium which is a mineral that is responsible for the regulation of muscle and nerve function in the body. It also plays an important role in neuromuscular conduction and nerve transmission.

6. Good source of animal protein
Although ponmo has low protein content when compared to other animal protein sources because it doesn’t contain all essential amino acids, it is still a good source of protein. It is a good food for athletes and bodybuilders.

7. Rich in collagen
Kpomo or cow skin meat is used to produce a type of collagen known as Bovine collagen.
Collagen is an abundant protein that is produced by your body. However, as you age, your body’s collagen production will start to decline, and that can lead to many health issues, such as bone, joint, and skin problems.

Eating cow meat skin or kpomo is a great way to increase collagen production in your body. It is rich in bovine collagen, which can help to reduce wrinkles, promote elasticity, increase skin moisture, and prevent bone loss.

The post Pomo first appeared on Simple Solution Nigeria.

In Nigeria, of its total area of 373,000 square miles (966,000 square kilometers), about 139,000 square miles (360,000 square kilometers) are forest lands. However, it is the Western Region which contains the important timber bearing areas of Nigeria: there is no extraction for export in the Northern and little in the Eastern Provinces of Nigeria.

The total area of the Western Provinces is 44,000 square miles (114,000 square kilometers), of which 18,529 square miles (48,000 square kilometers), or 42 percent is forest land, over one half of this area – 10,571 square miles (27,400 square kilometers) – is closed forest, which means the trees grow so close together, there is a continuous closed canopy of foliage.

Forest reserves account for 3,863 square miles (10,000 square kilometers) of this area, while 6,708 square miles (17,375 square kilometers) are unreserved. The reserved forest does not consist of a single block of land, but of a large number of isolated irregularly shaped islands of reserve scattered over the whole closed forest area.

The trees are planted and allowed for 3-5years to mature after which is fell or cut down from the stem, it is then processed into beams and planks. The trees lumber can either be a hardwood like Mahogany, White Oak, and Ebony or softwood like Hemlock, Fir, Cedar and many more, softwood is readily available and consist about 80% of lumber than hardwood which takes longer time to grow.

Timber cultivation in Nigeria and in all other parts of the world is very beneficial, as it doesn’t only provide opportunities for its use in all kinds of wood work and furniture but it is also safe, readily available and naturally anti-corrosive.

The post Timber first appeared on Simple Solution Nigeria.