Wood charcoal is a lightweight, black substance made from burning wood in a controlled environment with limited oxygen. It is primarily used as a fuel source for cooking, heating, and industrial processes and has been utilized for centuries due to its high energy density and relatively low cost.
The process of making wood charcoal involves heating wood in a kiln or retort to temperatures between 400 and 700 degrees Celsius (752 to 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit) in the absence of oxygen. This process, known as pyrolysis, drives off the volatile components of the wood, leaving behind a porous, carbon-rich material known as charcoal.