• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.480-489
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• 2010

We investigated the functional characteristics of commercial wood charcoal in Korea and their application as functional raw materials. The areas of analysis were anatomical features, elementary composition, mineral composition, caloric values, anion and far-infrared ray emission, and moisture absorption capacity. Based on the analyses as above mentioned, it is considered that charcoal can be evaluated as functional raw material. In commercial wood charcoal in Korea, there were highly varied depending on manufacturing methods as black charcoal, white charcoal and mechanical charcoal and manufactures for elementary composition, mineral composition, anion emission, far infrared ray emission. Especially, black charcoal showed lower moisture absorption capacity than white charcoal and mechanical charcoal. For charcoal as functional raw material, selective usage are needed based on the analyses of anatomical features, elementary composition, mineral composition, caloric values, anion and far-infrared ray emission, and moisture absorption capacity. Specific charcoal making methods for improving specific functionality, required as functional raw material, are necessary in further research.