Wood ash

Wood ash

Wood ash is the residue powder left after the combustion of wood. Main producers of wood ash are wood industries and power plants.

Composition

Typically 6-10 percent of burned wood results in ash. [ [http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~blpprt/bestwoodash.html Clemson University: Soil Acidity and Liming] , accessed October 1, 2008] The composition of wood ash is influenced by the type of wood that has been burned. Also the conditions of the combustion affect the composition and amount of the residue ash, thus higher temperature will deduce ash yield. [cite web| url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=5621349 |title=Physical and chenical characteristics of wood ask |author=L. Etiegni, Campbell AG |journal=Biosource technology (1991) 37(2):173-8] cite journal| author=Misra MK, Ragland KW, Baker AJ | title=Wood Ash Composition as a Function of Furnace Temerature | journal=Biomass and Bioenergy (1993) 4(2):103-116| url=http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1993/misra93a.pdf]

Wood ash contains calcium carbonate as its major component, representing 25 percent. or even 45 percent. [ [http://www.humeseeds.com/ashes.htm] Ed Hume Seeds: Wood Ashes - How to use them in the Garden] Less than 10 percent is potash, and less than 1 percent phosphate; there are trace elements of iron, manganese, zinc, copper and some heavy metals.cite web |url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/woodash.html |author=Purdue UniversityConsumer Horticulture,Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. |title=Wood Ash in the Garden, accessed October 1,2008] However these numbers can vary as combustion temperature is an important variable in determining wood as composition.

Utilization

Wood ash is commonly disposed of in landfills, however with increasing cost ecologically friendly alternatives are becoming more attractive. [cite web |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V24-423H71H-9&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=97c228ba2e27fdea6d3b3a01f0c20cda |author=Demeyer A, Voundi Nkana JC, Verloo MG| title=Characteristics of wood ash and influence on soil properties and nutrient uptake: an overview]

For a long time wood ash has been used in agricultural soil applications as it recycles nutrients back to the land. Wood ash has some value as a fertilizer, but does not contain nitrogen. Because of the presence of calcium carbonate it acts as a liming agent and will deacidify the soil increasing its pH.. Lye can be made from wood ash. [ [http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_ashlye.html Making lye from wood ash] , accessed October 1, 2008]

References

ee also

* fly ash


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