Here we can see charcoal being made in  mass production situation.

Charcoal

How is it formed: Woodlands (2008) and Amazingribs (2011) both agree on the production of charcoal and how it is formed. Charcoal is the solid residue left when carbon is burnt, or as some say ‘pyrolysed’ in an absence of oxygen and other possible impurities often in a closed case such as a kiln. This method can take a while to produce charcoal though. So often in industry or mass-market, they have systems to eliminate all oxygen as it provides a higher yield as no extra wood is burnt.

Once the process starts it produces its own heat but the decomposition doesn’t start until it reaches 300°C

Charcoal is available as either a ‘lump’ or a briquette. SeriousEats looks the the differences between lumps and briquettes. A ‘lump’ will lights quickly, burn hotter, have little ash production, easier temperature adjustment, and all natural. However, it will burn faster, can be more expensive, less consistent (bags can contain unusably small pieces of charcoal) where as a briquette will burn longer, easier to maintain consistent temperature, cheaper.
However, they are often take longer to light, give a chemical smell, large ash production. 

How can we make better charcoal?

A good place to start when making our own charcoal is removing as much water moisture as possible and other volatile substances such as methane, tar and hydrogen.

What are the uses of charcoal? 

Charcoal has been used by ancient peoples for hundreds of years as tool for communication and also many new uses. 

UK agriculture (2013) demonstrates these uses, both current and ancient.

 

Bibliography

Amazingribs, (2011). The Zen Of Charcoal: How Charcoal Is Made And How Charcoal Works. [Online]
Available at: http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/zen_of_charcoal.html
[Accessed 28 3 2013].

UK Agriculture, (2005). Charcoal Uses. [Online]
Available at: http://www.ukagriculture.com/countryside/charcoal_uses.cfm
[Accessed 20 4 2013].

Woodlands, (2008). How do you make charcoal?. [Online]
Available at: http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-do-you-make-charcoal/
[Accessed 16 3 2013].

 SeriousEats, (2008). Grilling Smackdown: Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes. [Online]

Available at: http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/05/grilling-smackdown-lump-charcoal-vs-briquette.html [Accessed 18 3 2013]