Bone char: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:32, 20 February 2025

A form of carbon used in filtration and refining processes

Bone char is a porous, black, granular material primarily composed of carbon, calcium, and phosphorus. It is produced by heating animal bones in an oxygen-limited environment, a process known as pyrolysis. Bone char is widely used in various industrial applications, particularly in the filtration and refining of liquids.

Production[edit]

Bone char is created through the pyrolysis of animal bones, typically from cattle. The bones are cleaned and then heated to temperatures between 400°C and 500°C in the absence of oxygen. This process removes organic material and leaves behind a carbon-rich material. The resulting bone char consists of approximately 10% carbon, 80% calcium phosphate, and 10% other inorganic materials.

Applications[edit]

Water Filtration[edit]

Bone char is highly effective in removing fluoride and heavy metals from water. Its porous structure and high surface area allow it to adsorb contaminants efficiently. This makes it a popular choice for water purification systems, particularly in areas where fluoride levels in drinking water are high.

Sugar Refining[edit]

In the sugar industry, bone char is used to decolorize and purify sugar solutions. The char adsorbs colored impurities, resulting in a whiter sugar product. This process is known as "bone char filtration" and is commonly used in the production of refined sugar.

Other Uses[edit]

Bone char is also used in the production of activated carbon, as a black pigment in art, and in the manufacture of certain fertilizers. Its ability to adsorb impurities makes it valuable in various chemical processes.

Environmental Impact[edit]

The production and use of bone char have raised environmental and ethical concerns. The sourcing of animal bones and the energy-intensive pyrolysis process contribute to its environmental footprint. Additionally, the use of animal-derived materials in industrial processes is a topic of ethical debate.

Related pages[edit]

Bone char
Bone char
Bone char
Bone char

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-'''Bone char''' (also known as '''bone black''', '''ivory black''', or '''animal charcoal''') is a granular material produced by charring animal bones. The substance is primarily composed of [[tricalcium phosphate]], [[carbon]], and [[activated carbon]]. It is used in various applications, including sugar refining, water filtration, and as a black pigment in art.
+{{Short description|A form of carbon used in filtration and refining processes}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-== History ==
+'''Bone char''' is a porous, black, granular material primarily composed of carbon, calcium, and phosphorus. It is produced by heating animal bones in an oxygen-limited environment, a process known as [[pyrolysis]]. Bone char is widely used in various industrial applications, particularly in the filtration and refining of liquids.
-The use of bone char dates back to prehistoric times, with evidence of its use found in [[paleolithic]] cave paintings. In the 18th and 19th centuries, bone char was commonly used in the production of [[sugar]], where it served as a decolorizing and deashing agent. Today, it continues to be used in some sugar refining processes, although its use has declined due to the development of more efficient and cost-effective alternatives.
+==Production==
+Bone char is created through the pyrolysis of animal bones, typically from cattle. The bones are cleaned and then heated to temperatures between 400°C and 500°C in the absence of oxygen. This process removes organic material and leaves behind a carbon-rich material. The resulting bone char consists of approximately 10% carbon, 80% calcium phosphate, and 10% other inorganic materials.
-== Production ==
+==Applications==
-Bone char is produced by heating animal bones in the absence of [[oxygen]], a process known as [[pyrolysis]]. This process results in a material that is primarily composed of tricalcium phosphate (approximately 80%) and carbon (approximately 10%), with the remainder consisting of other minerals.
+===Water Filtration===
+Bone char is highly effective in removing [[fluoride]] and [[heavy metals]] from water. Its porous structure and high surface area allow it to adsorb contaminants efficiently. This makes it a popular choice for water purification systems, particularly in areas where fluoride levels in drinking water are high.
-== Applications ==
+===Sugar Refining===
+In the sugar industry, bone char is used to decolorize and purify [[sugar]] solutions. The char adsorbs colored impurities, resulting in a whiter sugar product. This process is known as "bone char filtration" and is commonly used in the production of [[refined sugar]].
-=== Sugar refining ===
+===Other Uses===
+Bone char is also used in the production of [[activated carbon]], as a black pigment in art, and in the manufacture of certain [[fertilizers]]. Its ability to adsorb impurities makes it valuable in various chemical processes.
-In the [[sugar industry]], bone char is used as a decolorizing agent. The bone char is used in a process known as [[adsorption]], where it binds to and removes color-causing impurities from the sugar.
+==Environmental Impact==
+The production and use of bone char have raised environmental and ethical concerns. The sourcing of animal bones and the energy-intensive pyrolysis process contribute to its environmental footprint. Additionally, the use of animal-derived materials in industrial processes is a topic of ethical debate.
-=== Water filtration ===
-Bone char is also used in [[water filtration]] systems. The activated carbon in the bone char adsorbs various impurities, including [[fluoride]], [[chlorine]], and certain heavy metals, improving the taste and safety of the water.
-=== Art ===
-In art, bone char is used as a black pigment. Known as ivory black or bone black, this pigment has been used in oil painting and other art forms for centuries.
-== Health and ethical considerations ==
-The use of bone char in sugar refining has raised health and ethical concerns. Some individuals, particularly [[vegan]]s and certain religious groups, object to the use of bone char due to its animal origins. Additionally, there are potential health risks associated with the consumption of sugar refined with bone char, although these risks are generally considered to be low.
-== See also ==
+==Related pages==
 * [[Activated carbon]]
+* [[Water purification]]
 * [[Sugar refining]]
-* [[Water filtration]]
+* [[Pyrolysis]]
-[[Category:Materials]]
+[[Category:Carbon]]
+[[Category:Filtration]]
 [[Category:Industrial processes]]
-[[Category:Art materials]]
+<gallery>
-{{materials-stub}}
+File:Živočišné_uhlí_(Carbocit).jpg|Bone char
+File:Sucre_blanc_cassonade_complet_rapadura.jpg|Bone char
+File:MANET_-_Música_en_las_Tullerías_(National_Gallery,_Londres,_1862).jpg|Bone char
+File:Solar_Orbiter_Structural_Thermal_Model.jpg|Bone char
+</gallery>