Exactly what are charcoal briquettes? It might suprise you.

Mark

somebody shut me the fark up.
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Some health "authorities" claim the carbon in "Q" increases the risk of cancer. Personally, I think it's junk science at best. On the other hand, some of the trace elements in charcoal briquettes can be really nasty. So maybe the culprit (if there is one) isn't carbon.

Read on:

Mark (STL)


Q: Exactly what are charcoal briquettes?

A: Charcoal briquettes are produced by crushing charcoal and mixing in additives, such as nitrates (to make them burn better), and clays and starches (as binders to allow pressing into the traditional shape) and other additives. Some charcoal briquette manufacturers pride themselves on making a briquette out of almost pure wood charcoal, using only starch as a binder to hold the charcoal in shape. Other manufacturers make no secret that they use a wide variety of additives. A Kingsford Company spokeswoman stated: "Briquettes are preferred by Americans for their uniform size and stable heat." She pooh-poohs concerns about their ingredients, which include: powdered charcoal, anthracite coal for long burning, limestone to create ash, starch as binders, and sawdust and sodium nitrate for quick lighting. "The starch is perfectly natural and the coal is high-quality."
http://www.cbbqa.com/grilling/Charcoalforgrilling.html

The process of making briquettes consists of drygrinding
the charcoal and mixing it with a starch solution
to form a paste. In addition to the charcoal and starch,
various amounts of coal, clay, and char from lignite or
agricultural residues are used in the briquettes. The paste
then goes to a double-roll rotary press, which delivers
formed briquettes to a continuous dryer.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/usda/agib666/aib66603.pdf


trace elements in coal http://www.acarp.com.au/Newsletters/traceelements.html#Moderate
 
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