ANS:B - Wood charcoal

Bone charcoal, also known as bone char, is a type of carbonaceous material derived from the heating and carbonization of animal bones. Here's an explanation of bone charcoal:

1. Source: Bone charcoal is produced by heating animal bones, typically from cattle, to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. This process, known as pyrolysis or carbonization, converts the organic material in the bones into carbon while driving off volatile components.
2. Composition: Bone charcoal primarily consists of carbon, with small amounts of inorganic minerals and trace elements derived from the bone structure. The carbon content gives bone charcoal its porous structure, which is important for its adsorption properties.
3. Porosity and Surface Area: One of the key characteristics of bone charcoal is its high porosity and surface area. The porous structure provides a large surface area for adsorption, allowing bone charcoal to effectively trap and remove impurities from liquids or gases.
4. Adsorption Properties: Bone charcoal is widely used as an adsorbent in various applications, including water purification, sugar refining, and decolorization of food and beverages. Its porous structure allows it to adsorb a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds, including colorants, odors, and contaminants.
5. Applications:
   • Water Purification: Bone charcoal is used in water treatment processes to remove impurities, odors, and colorants from drinking water and wastewater.
   • Sugar Refining: In the sugar industry, bone charcoal is used in the decolorization and purification of sugar syrups and solutions, helping to remove pigments and impurities to produce refined white sugar.
   • Food and Beverage Industry: Bone charcoal is employed in the decolorization and purification of food and beverage products such as edible oils, fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.
   • Pharmaceutical Industry: Bone charcoal is used in pharmaceutical applications for purification and removal of impurities from pharmaceutical products and intermediates.
6. Environmental Considerations: While bone charcoal is effective as an adsorbent, there are environmental and ethical concerns associated with its production. The use of animal bones raises ethical considerations, and alternative adsorbents such as activated carbon derived from plant sources or synthetic materials are available for many applications.

In summary, bone charcoal is a carbonaceous material derived from the carbonization of animal bones, known for its high porosity and adsorption properties. It finds applications in various industries for purification, decolorization, and removal of impurities from liquids and gases.