Bio-Engineered Charcoal for Large Caliber Ignition Systems

Charcoal is a frequently used resource by the DoD with numerous applications. Military charcoal is produced through destructive distillation of a variety of wood types, resulting in a high degree of batch-to-batch variability. Depending on the application of the charcoal, this variability can result in undesirable characteristics in the end-product. To address this issue, DEVCOM AC is examining a charcoal bio-manufactured by DEVCOM CBC using bacteriophages. This highly controlled process results in the consistent production of charcoal with a variety of desirable characteristics, including a high surface area available for combustion due to its porosity as well as a high level of purity. In this effort, DEVCOM AC is investigating this bio-manufactured charcoal as a drop-in replacement in comparison to standard charcoal for applications of interest to boost ignition performance. This work will produce a drop-in-replacement for a DoD-critical resource with improved characteristics, resulting in enhanced capabilities and a novel, sustainable supply chain.