Substitutes for charcoal

Nitroindene Polymer (N.I.P.). Evaluated at PicArsn as a substitute for charcoal in fuze powders. The N.I.P. fuze powders gave longer burning times and lower dispersions in M54 Time Fuzes under rotation and reduced pressure than the corresponding charcoal powders. They were also more sensitive to impact Ref D. Hart, Investigation of the Use of Nitroindene Polymer in Powder for M54 Time Fuze , PATR 1296 (1943) PATR 1525 (1945)... 

Besides its usage in foods, indene polymer is used in the coatings industry, inks, floorings and in rubber applications. Some use has been made of the nitrated polymer as an ingredient in fuze powder (substituting for charcoal), but because of the sensy to impact this use is discontinued (Ref 3)... 

Wise et al. investigated a number of crystalline organic compounds polynuclear aromatics, polyphenols, diacids, phthalein salts and phenolphthalein etc. as a substitute for charcoal in pyrotechnic formulations. Charcoal in black powder was substituted by these compounds in order to probe the chemical functionality of charcoal required for combustion. The data indicate that polynuclear aromatics which do not contain any oxygen do not sustain... 

Wise, S., Sasse, R.A., and Holmes, H.E. (1984) Organic substitutes for charcoal in black powder type pyrotechnic formulations. US Army Technical Report No. ARBRL-TR-02569. 

Cuprene or Carbene (Called Cupren or Carbea in Ger). In addn to the info given under Carbene (Vol 2, p C50-51), the following uses in expls the indicated Refs should be noted. Foulon (Ref 2) has reviewed the patent literature on the uses of cuprene in the expl industry. Here is discussed the possible use of cuprene as an absorbent for NG or liq O, as a substitute for charcoal in BkPdr, and as an ingredient of chlorate or AN explosives... 

Hexamer.hylenctctraminc may be substituted for charcoal, shellac dextrin, or sugar in pyrotechnics, especially in fireworks for indoor display. Charred woodmeal or sawdust may also be used. 

Coke was mainly used as a substitute for charcoal in the production of pig iron, coal gas was used for lighting, and coal tar initially replaced wood tar for impregnating timber used in ship-building. 

Granular media filtration is used for treating aqueous waste streams. The filter media consists of a bed of granular particles (typically sand or sand with anthracite or coal). The anthracite has adsorptive characteristics and hence can be beneficial in removing some biological and chemical contaminants in the wastewater. This material may also be substituted for activated charcoal. 

Paleine or Paleina. Dynamites patented by Langfrey in Engl in 1878 contg nitrated straw ( fulmi-paille ). One of the formulations could [G 35.0, Nitrostriv/ 18.6, ssltpstsr 32.5, sulfur 4.6, and potato starch 9.3%. Part of the sulfur could be replaced with hardwood charcoal, and dextrin could be substituted for the starch... 

Nursing alcohol lamps and charcoal fires in his tiny home laboratory during the Easter vacation of 1856, a teenager slowly teased out the constituents of a black and tarry goo. Working nights, weekends, and holidays on chemistry, he was searching for a test-tube substitute for quinine, the antimalaria drug derived from plants. The black precipitate he had made was obviously not quinine, but the youth was well trained in chemistry, so he did not throw it out. Instead, he treated it with alcohol, and a fabulously intense purple appeared. Then he tested the purple on a piece of silk. 

Other markets for char include iron, steel, and sili-con/ferro-silicon industries. Char can be used as a reducing agent in direct reduction of iron. Ferro-silicon and metallurgical-grade silicon metal are produced carbothermally in electric furnaces. Silica is mixed with coke, either iron ore or scrap steel (in the case of ferro-silicon), and sawdust or charcoal in order to form a charge. The charge is then processed by the furnace to create the desired product. Char can be substituted for the coke as a source of reducing carbon for this process. Some plants in Norway are known to have used coal-char in the production of silicon-based metal products as late as mid-1990.5 The use of char in this industry is not practiced due to lack of char supply. 

Note Abel s researches were described more fully in JChemSoc 20, 310-57 505-76(1867) 1867. Borlinetto proposed a mixt of PA (Picric Acid) 10 parts, Na Nitrate 10 K Chlorate 8.5 parts as substitute for Gunpowder (Ref 12, p 7) 1867. Swed inventors J.H. Norrbin C.J. Ohlsson proposed mixtures of pulverized AN with sawdust or charcoal as absorbent for NG (Vol 5 of Encycl, p D1587-R) (Also Ref 1 l,p42) 1867. Swed inventor Bjorkmann patented the mixture called Seranin (Vol 5 of Encycl, p D1587-R)... 

Mention should also be made of another method of reducing the rate of burning of the powder, i.e. the addition of paraffin. In some French cube powders, paraflin was substituted for 5% of charcoal. 

Wood charcoal can rarely bo obtained cheaply enough to be need for this purpose, and small coal, such as leaves bnt little ash, is substituted for it, in which case the quantity used should then be twe-thirds of the weight of the salt cake, or even more. 

No substitute for animal charcoal has been found to approach it in value. It must be bard enough to retain its form after yearn of use and frequent movement. It must also be porons, and must oontain fully seven per cent, of carbon. 

Black powder can vary from brand to brand. Variations in percentage compositions between manufacturers are small, but different charcoals, types of saltpeter (purity), different moisture content, and so forth can result in different ballistic performances from basically similar mixtures. Owing to a temporary shortage of potassium nitrate during World War I, sodium nitrate was used as a substitute. Ammonium nitrate has also been used as a substitute for potassium nitrate. 

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