Abstract
Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), Makino bamboo (Phyllostachys makinoi), and Ma
bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus) were used for charcoal making in an earthen kiln. Bamboo
specimens were cut to 4~6 cm in width and 20 cm in length and then put in a with stainless steel
cylinder. Five cylinders were piled up to 1 m in height. The carbonization temperature in each
cylinder was respectively measured using a K-type thermocouple. In order to investigate the properties
of bamboo charcoal affected by differences in the carbonization temperature in the earthen
kiln, the pH value, true density, electrical resistivity, and specific surface area were determined for
specimens sampled from different cylinders. From the results of the processes of carbonization
temperatures of each cylinder in the earthen kiln, curves of different temperatures were obtained.
The highest carbonization temperatures in different cylinders at the end of carbonizing were 774,
745, 695, 609, and 537℃, respectively, from top to bottom. pH values of bamboo charcoal were at
the range of 8.96~10.26 and were not obviously affected by the species or carbonization temperature.
The true density of bamboo charcoal increased with an increase in the carbonization temperature.
The electrical resistivity of the 3 kinds of bamboo charcoal significantly decreased with an
increase in the carbonization temperature. For all 3 kinds of bamboo charcoal, the specific surface
area increased with an increase in the carbonization temperature.