Industrial retort unbriquetted wood charcoal

1. Scope and Applicability

Applies to untreated non-coniferous roundwood converted in closed industrial retorts, with internal combustion of off-gas for process heat, followed by cooling, screening and bulk loading of unactivated, unbriquetted wood charcoal. Handling is electric and supply is low-voltage grid electricity; auxiliary firing may use the same roundwood or pipeline natural gas. Water circulation, condensate capture and offsite wastewater treatment are conditional on installed equipment. Charcoal is a physical mixture of fixed carbon, volatiles, mineral ash and moisture, not a single pure-carbon species; fixed-carbon content must not replace product mass. Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; epa-charcoal-1995.

Excludes open pit/earth kilns, multiple-hearth powder-charcoal/briquetting routes, activation, binder/mineral-coal blends, non-wood feedstocks, treated or glued wood, commercial chemical co-product recovery/refining, downstream use and direct liquid environmental discharge. The proFagus original demonstrates actual chemical recovery, but its plant recipe, yields and environmental marketing do not establish industry defaults; that route is outside this single-product method (profagus-retort-biochemicals). Other fuels, packaging or commercial co-products require specific atomic exchanges and method evidence before applicability is extended. CPC 34510 establishes the wood-charcoal classification, not complete coverage of all routes (un-cpc-34510).

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.other-transportable-goods-except-metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-chemicals.wood-charcoal
classification_refs	CPC 3.0:34510; narrower
covered_products	Bulk unbriquetted wood charcoal within the declared retort route
excluded_products	Activated carbon, briquettes, mineral-coal coke, recovered chemicals, soil-biochar performance claims
representative_product	Retort lump charcoal from non-coniferous roundwood; actual species and grade declared
production_route	Roundwood receipt/cutting → drying → closed retort and off-gas heat recovery → cooling → screening → bulk loading
market_state	Accepted unactivated bulk lump charcoal at declared moisture and quality grade

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Delivery of specified charcoal at producer gate; no equivalent cooking, adsorption or reduction performance claim
How much	1 kg accepted net as-delivered charcoal
How well	Actual wood species, screened size grade, moisture, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon and intended-use quality specification
How long or cycle	Declared representative production campaign through bulk loading; no service lifetime asserted
reference_flow_link	charcoal_output

Field	Value
Reference amount	1
Reference product flow	Charcoal d05420ab-1fe9-4a24-91fa-b877460920cc
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	Untreated non-coniferous species and provenance; actual retort and heat recovery; unactivated/unbriquetted; bulk; as-delivered wet-basis moisture; size grade; ash/volatile/fixed-carbon test bases; firing fuels and off-gas treatment; geography/campaign/providers; net mass/tare; single-product and waste receiver conditions

Missing required qualifiers make the data package reference-flow definition incomplete.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	charcoal_output	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	1 kg accepted net as-delivered charcoal; cp_product uses calibrated weighing less measured tare, with matched delivery moisture.
moisture_basis	wood_input; charcoal_output	Mass	kg	cp_wood and cp_product measure wet-basis moisture w separately; diagnostic dry mass m_dry = m_wet × (1 − w). Report dry-basis yield separately without changing the delivered-mass denominator; no historical volume, stacking or yield coefficients (fao-industrial-charcoal-1985, 2.3 and 2.9.1).
energy_basis	electricity_input; gas_input	Net calorific value; Volume	MJ; m3	Electricity uses metered kWh × 3.6 to MJ; retain the database Net calorific value property name without inferring combustion efficiency. Gas temperature/pressure, wet/dry basis, composition and compressibility must match provider/background m3; unknown compatibility leaves the background link incomplete.
emissions_basis	all elementary outputs	Mass	kg	Align concentration, flow and time on temperature/pressure, wet/dry and sampling bases before integration; report actual species mass. NOx equivalents are not NO or NO2 mass; source-split CO2/CO/CH4 without duplicating totals and fractions.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Untreated non-coniferous roundwood delivered at gate and actual electricity/gas/water supplies
starting_condition_role	Foreground receipt point; not zero upstream burden
product_classification_scope	Declared retort unbriquetted wood-charcoal subset of CPC 34510
recursive_input_rule	Record internal fines/wood/off-gas returns in the physical ledger without another external reference output; purchased-charcoal processing is outside this roundwood route
upstream_dataset_requirement	Compatible forestry/harvest/roadside and inbound transport, geographic/year-specific grid, pipeline gas and water backgrounds; disclose each gap
disclosure	Equipment, carbonization/firing fuels, controls, water destination, internal links, single-product status, foreground/background responsibilities and abnormal operation

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
boundary_stages	retort_unit	Include wood preparation, drying, retort, gas heat recovery/treatment, cooling, screening and onsite loading in one foreground unit with separate stage measurements. Internal links have equal quantities at both ends.	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985
boundary_emissions	retort_unit	Account for post-treatment release, diffuse leaks, start-up/shutdown and failures; captured liquids/dust and internal gas are not also emitted. WGC BAT 2, 3 and 8 inform conditional monitoring design; the CPC chemical label does not establish EU legal applicability or permit BAT limits to replace measurement.	epa-charcoal-1995; jrc-wgc-2023
boundary_exclusions	applicability	Use only the declared single-product internal heat-recovery route. Commercial chemical recovery, fines sales, heat exports, purchased steam, other fuels or direct liquid discharge require new applicability assessment, separate measurement and specific methods.	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; profagus-retort-biochemicals

Physical Reconciliation and Analytical Coverage

Keep unallocated opening/closing stocks and stage transfers for received wood, drying/retort charge, accepted and rejected charcoal, fines, aqueous condensate, dissolved and separated tar, non-condensable retort gas, auxiliary fuels, cooling water and captured residues. Record actual combustion air and its moisture, flue-gas throughput/composition and water-vapour discharge on compatible time and temperature/pressure bases. An internal transfer appears equally at sender and receiver; only an actual external exchange enters the normalized inventory. Tar retained in charcoal, dissolved in condensate, decanted, burned or emitted has distinct destinations; never infer their quantities from chemical-recovery examples. A separately transferred tar waste or any additional actual product needs its own concrete exchange and applicability assessment; do not hide it in the aqueous-condensate row (fao-industrial-charcoal-1985, 2.4–2.6 and 2.9.2).

For each lot retain measured moisture, ash, volatiles and their wet/dry test bases; fixed carbon by proximate difference is not an elemental-carbon measurement. Use documented representative elemental analysis of dry wood, charcoal, tar and residues and measured gas composition for independent C, H and O conservation checks, including water, combustion oxygen and stock changes. The water ledger distinguishes feed/air moisture and cooling makeup from reaction-generated water and reconciles measured water in product, condensate, wastewater and vapour. Attribute pyrolysis and combustion water with the stage measurements and H/O conservation; report unresolved attribution and residual uncertainty rather than forcing closure, assuming all condensate is feed moisture, or imposing a universal wood formula or reaction-water yield. Record the laboratory method, sampling, calibration, recovery and uncertainty for each matrix (fao-industrial-charcoal-1985, 2.3–2.6 and 2.9.1).

Retain a gross heat ledger before allocation: document measured gross calorific values and moisture bases for actual wood, charcoal, retort gas and tar/condensate fuels; reconcile auxiliary heat and electricity, internal heat recovery, sensible/latent heat, reaction heat, retained product energy, stock changes and losses on one declared convention. Disclose calorimetry or metered-heat methods and any conversion between gross and net calorific bases. Electricity's database property name does not make it a combustible fuel; FAO's example calorific values and energy diagrams are not defaults. Internal recovered heat is a transfer, not an avoided-product credit (fao-industrial-charcoal-1985, 2.6 and 2.9.1).

Select documented sampling and analytical methods for the actual post-treatment gas, leaks and captured phases. WGC BAT 8 provides a conditional EN/equivalent-quality method framework, not a universal retort speciation method. Require demonstrated analyte/matrix coverage, sampling location and duration, recovery/blanks, calibration, detection limits and uncertainty. Total organic carbon cannot be assigned as methanol, ethanol, acetone or acetic-acid mass; NOx-equivalent readings cannot establish separate NO/NO2 masses. Document separate vapour, aerosol and condensable fractions and disjoint particle-size measurements; EPA's briquetting controls and uncontrolled kiln factors cannot supply retort size shares or capture efficiencies. Measure captured and released fractions separately, reconcile phase overlap and retain additional detected species as atomic exchanges. Unsupported analytical coverage makes the data package incomplete (epa-charcoal-1995, 10.7.2; jrc-wgc-2023, BAT 2, 3 and 8).

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
retort_unit	Integrated roundwood-to-bulk-charcoal unit	required	Declared route	foreground	charcoal_output

Conditional rows receive quantities only when the exchange occurs; absence needs equipment/measurement evidence, and missing measurement is not zero. This is not a fixed recipe. Add individual species rows and identities for other substances found in screening; unresolved total VOC or POM is not one verified species.

Process: Industrial retort charcoal (retort_unit)

Inputs

Product flows

Fuel wood of non-coniferous wood (wood_input)

Untreated non-coniferous roundwood received in its actual natural moisture state at the producer gate; pair net lot mass with moisture, bark, ash/soil contamination and elemental-analysis bases. Separate carbonization charge, external wood firing and unconverted return in the physical ledger. The forest-roadside identity requires a separately documented inbound transport link. Reject treated wood and glued panels.

• Selected flow: Fuel wood of non-coniferous wood aaabc17f-c8db-4493-aa7d-1acb67ee3fa2
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_wood and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_wood
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Alternating current (electricity_input)

Purchased low-voltage (<1 kV) grid-average alternating current for electric handling, cutting, fans and screening. Verify the actual connection and supplier geography/year; other voltage supplies require another verified identity. Convert metered kWh to MJ using 3.6, without treating electricity as combustion fuel.

• Selected flow: Alternating current 50657322-939c-4829-a87b-47c093bfa6a7
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_utilities and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_utilities
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

natural gas in the gaseous state (gas_input)

Pipeline gaseous natural gas only for documented start-up or supplementary firing. Volume requires temperature, pressure, wet/dry basis, composition and compressibility with supplier/background m3 compatibility; the secondary mass property is not a density measurement. No fixed heating value or methane fraction is supplied.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-12da-a746-0800200c9a66 / m3
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_utilities and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_utilities
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Tap water (water_input)

Purchased treated tap water for cooling makeup and cleaning where used. Meter once at entry; recirculating cooling water is an internal transfer. Convert measured volume to mass with documented local water density, not the database secondary conversion as a universal default.

• Selected flow: Tap water d1e0e36c-07f0-4a75-bdcb-efb5d9e2ac36
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_water and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Outputs

Product flows

Charcoal (charcoal_output)

One accepted cooled and screened unbriquetted wood-charcoal output at bulk loading, at declared as-delivered moisture. Excludes packaging tare, rejected fines and other products. This broad identity contains wood charcoal; its incidental activated-charcoal description does not authorize activation or pure-carbon assumptions.

• Selected flow: Charcoal d05420ab-1fe9-4a24-91fa-b877460920cc
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: 1 kg
• Value mode: fixed_value
• Specificity: product_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: method_formula
• Collection protocol: cp_product
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Waste flows

Discarded unbriquetted wood-charcoal fines (charcoal_fines_waste)

Include only collected charcoal fines sent offsite for waste treatment; record particle size, moisture, ash, contamination and receiver. Internal return is not an external waste or an air emission. Sale as a product changes the declared single-product route.

• Selected flow: Discarded unbriquetted wood-charcoal fines
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_residues and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_residues
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Discarded wood-carbonization pyroligneous condensate (condensate_waste)

One collected aqueous pyrolysis condensate stream, with actual tar, organic acid, alcohol and water composition recorded; not pure acetic acid or pure methanol. Include only offsite waste transfer, not internally burned condensate.

• Selected flow: Discarded wood-carbonization pyroligneous condensate
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_residues and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_residues
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Wood-combustion ash from retort heating (wood_ash_waste)

Ash from documented auxiliary wood firing, if generated; weigh separately from charcoal ash remaining in the product and captured charcoal fines; identify moisture, mineral composition and receiver.

• Selected flow: Wood-combustion ash from retort heating
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_residues and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_residues
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Wood-charcoal cooling and cleaning wastewater (wastewater_output)

One segregated cooling/cleaning wastewater stream sent to offsite treatment, if generated; record water mass, dissolved/suspended constituents, concentrations and receiving treatment. No direct freshwater discharge is covered. Condensate retained separately is not counted again here.

• Selected flow: Wood-charcoal cooling and cleaning wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_water and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources: fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Elementary flows

carbon dioxide (biogenic) (co2_biogenic)

Biogenic CO2 reaching outdoor air after wood/off-gas combustion; retain in LCI regardless of climate-reporting exclusions. Separate product carbon, internal gas carbon and actual emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (biogenic) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9c15-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

carbon dioxide (fossil) (co2_fossil)

Fossil CO2 from natural-gas firing, where used; do not map all stack CO2 as biogenic. Source-apportion using measured fuel carbon and compatible monitoring.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

carbon monoxide (biogenic) (co_biogenic)

Residual biogenic CO escaping from wood pyrolysis, gas combustion and leaks; only the fraction actually crossing the environment boundary.

• Selected flow: carbon monoxide (biogenic) 8a313a02-e251-11e6-bf01-fe55135034f3
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

carbon monoxide (fossil) (co_fossil)

Residual fossil CO from natural gas combustion, if detected or methodically quantified; do not duplicate a source-mixed CO total.

• Selected flow: carbon monoxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-924e-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

methane (biogenic) (methane_biogenic)

Biogenic methane from pyrolysis and unburned wood gas, measured after treatment plus leaks; internal gas circulation is not a release.

• Selected flow: methane (biogenic) fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-a8e8-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

methane (fossil) (methane_fossil)

Fossil methane from pipeline-gas leakage or combustion slip, where applicable; a delayed-emission correction flow is not this exchange.

• Selected flow: methane (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9610-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

nitrogen monoxide (nitrogen_monoxide)

Actual NO mass to outdoor air, distinct from NO2 and N2O. A NOx result reported as NO2 equivalent cannot be assigned to this row without measured speciation and documented conversion.

• Selected flow: nitrogen monoxide 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-96ee-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

nitrogen dioxide (nitrogen_dioxide)

Actual NO2 mass to outdoor air. Do not add an aggregate NOx exchange to NO and NO2; total NOx-only observations remain an unresolved speciation/basis issue, not assumed zero.

• Selected flow: nitrogen dioxide 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-96e5-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

particles (PM2.5) (pm_fine)

Released PM2.5 from actual exhaust and handling measurements. Captured dust is not emitted PM; document filterable versus condensable coverage.

• Selected flow: particles (PM2.5) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9293-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

particles (PM2.5 - PM10) (pm_coarse)

Released disjoint PM2.5–PM10 fraction, not cumulative PM10. Derive only from compatible paired measurements; do not invent size shares from total PM.

• Selected flow: particles (PM2.5 - PM10) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9501-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

particles (> PM10) (pm_large)

Released particles above PM10, distinct from the two smaller intervals. Total PM reconciliation must account for condensables; do not count chemically speciated aerosol mass twice.

• Selected flow: particles (> PM10) fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-a70a-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

methanol (methanol_air)

Methanol vapour that remains after treatment or leaks, CAS 67-56-1; not the amount present in captured liquid condensate.

• Selected flow: methanol fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-a935-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

acetic acid (acetic_acid_air)

Acetic acid vapour actually released, CAS 64-19-7; excludes collected wood vinegar and acid aerosol already accounted within the particulate basis.

• Selected flow: acetic acid 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-92c3-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

ethane (ethane_air)

Ethane vapour actually released from pyrolysis gas, CAS 74-84-0; obtain species-specific measurement instead of using total VOC as ethane.

• Selected flow: ethane 4d9a8790-3ddd-11dd-9219-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

ethanol (ethanol_air)

Ethanol vapour actually released, CAS 64-17-5; source screening establishes a potential species, not a positive emission amount.

• Selected flow: ethanol 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9349-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

acetone (acetone_air)

Acetone vapour actually released, CAS 67-64-1; keep captured condensate composition separate from the air exchange.

• Selected flow: acetone 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9520-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

hydrogen (hydrogen_air)

Hydrogen escaping from pyrolysis gas, CAS 1333-74-0; measure the escaping portion, not the internally burned gas.

• Selected flow: hydrogen 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-949c-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

water vapour (water_vapour_air)

Water vapour reaching outdoor air from wood drying, carbonization, combustion and cooling; reconcile wood moisture, pyrolysis reaction water, combustion-generated water and cooling losses separately using the measured water and C/H/O ledgers, without counting captured condensate as vapour.

• Selected flow: water vapour fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-ac04-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Collected through cp_air and normalized by accepted net delivered charcoal mass for the same campaign; per 1 kg reference flow.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: epa-charcoal-1995; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
allocation_single_product	retort_unit	Accepted charcoal is the only commercial product in this route; assign attributable external burdens to charcoal without avoided-product credit for internal gas heat recovery. Preserve all actual physical outputs and losses.	jrc-ilcd-2010; fao-industrial-charcoal-1985
allocation_physical_ledger	physical_balance	Do not multiply physical wood, water, carbon or heat balances by allocation shares; internal loops are neither new feed nor free outputs. Do not treat wood vinegar as pure acid or tar as a pure constituent, or derive co-product yields from potential components.	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985
allocation_scope_change	commercial_cooutputs	Commercial chemicals, fines or net heat exports require a reassessed route and separately metered subdivision; inseparable processes need a goal/scope-compatible justified physical-causality or subsequent appropriate criterion with sensitivity disclosure. This PCR provides no default mass shares or prices.	jrc-ilcd-2010; profagus-retort-biochemicals

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

All external rows use one complete matched reporting pool for the same site, route and product state/grade, including failed and zero-output runs, rework, starts/stops and cleaning. Retain unnormalized period totals, stage transfers, opening/closing stocks and work in progress (WIP), with their attributable burdens. The common denominator Q is accepted loaded net charcoal kg with stock, WIP, rejects and fines reconciled separately. Exclude opening stock produced outside the pool from Q, or carry its matched prior-production burdens; never divide current-period loads by unmatched shipment mass or omit failed-run burdens. Zero-output subperiods retain their burdens in a justified matched pool with positive Q; if the complete pool has no positive Q, report per-kg results unavailable rather than zero or dividing by zero. Pair measured moisture with each weighed lot. Every protocol retains raw totals; its aggregation-rule column states the final per-1-kg output basis. Reconcile physical totals and stage attribution, then apply campaign_normalization exactly once. Credit each accepted net lot once after returns and reacceptance; internal rework is not new product output.

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_product	retort_unit	charcoal_output	Foreground measured records	Lot, calibrated net weighing, measured tare, delivery moisture, size, ash/volatiles/fixed carbon and bases, opening/closing stock, rejects	Calibrated loading scale; paired laboratory moisture and quality tests	kg	Each lot	Declared complete representative campaign with start/end dates	Actual site and declared-route equipment	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, sampling, lot links, stock reconciliation, gaps and uncertainty
cp_wood	retort_unit	wood_input	Foreground measured records	Species/treatment, supplier, received net mass/moisture, charge/external-firing wood/returns, opening/closing stock, transport records	Calibrated receipt/charge weighing; representative moisture samples; material lot tracking	kg	Each receipt and carbonization cycle	Declared complete representative campaign with start/end dates	Actual site and declared-route equipment	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, sampling, lot links, stock reconciliation, gaps and uncertainty
cp_utilities	retort_unit	electricity_input; gas_input	Foreground measured records	Electric/gas meter readings, stage/equipment/time, supply voltage/provider/grid year, gas temperature/pressure/wet-dry/composition/compressibility and heating-value basis	Calibrated equipment metering reconciled to bills/provider background definitions; separate start-up/shutdown	MJ; m3	Continuous with cycle totals	Declared complete representative campaign with start/end dates	Actual site and declared-route equipment	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, sampling, lot links, stock reconciliation, gaps and uncertainty
cp_water	retort_unit	water_input; wastewater_output	Foreground measured records	Inlet mass or volume/density, makeup, circulation, cooling/cleaning, wastewater mass/composition/concentrations, receiver	Calibrated water meter/tank weighing and laboratory samples; distinguish circulation, offsite wastewater and condensate	kg	Continuous and each wastewater shipment	Declared complete representative campaign with start/end dates	Actual site and declared-route equipment	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, sampling, lot links, stock reconciliation, gaps and uncertainty
cp_residues	retort_unit	charcoal_fines_waste; condensate_waste; wood_ash_waste	Foreground measured records	Per-stream net mass/tare/moisture/composition, internal returns, transfer notes, waste status and receiving treatment	Separately weigh fines/condensate/heating ash; matched samples and receiver documents	kg	Each generation and shipment	Declared complete representative campaign with start/end dates	Actual site and declared-route equipment	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, sampling, lot links, stock reconciliation, gaps and uncertainty
cp_air	retort_unit	elementary outputs	Foreground measured records	Species/CAS/origin, outlet/leak point, species mass concentration or verified conversion, gas volume flow rate F (m3/time) or already integrated volume V (m3), interval/time/start-up/failures, matched temperature/pressure/wet-dry basis, size/condensables, detection limits, NO/NO2 speciation, fuel carbon	Representative full-cycle outlet and diffuse monitoring, including abnormal events; obtain raw period species masses through emission_integration with actual species/source apportionment, then apply campaign_normalization once. Do not multiply already integrated gas volume by time or zero-fill from historical AP42 factors	kg	Representative complete cycles and each abnormal event	Declared complete representative campaign with start/end dates	Actual site and declared-route equipment	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, sampling, lot links, stock reconciliation, gaps and uncertainty

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
campaign_normalization	all inventory rows	For each non-reference external flow i, reconcile the raw attributable period amount X_i, stocks, WIP and returns over the complete matched pool defined above; q_i = X_i / Q exactly once. X_i has not already been divided by Q. Keep all matched failed/zero-output/rework burdens; internal transfers are not new external exchanges. Keep charcoal_output exactly 1 kg. If Q is not positive, the per-kg result is unavailable; do not discard failed runs or report zero burden. All external rows use one complete matched reporting pool for the same site, route and product state/grade, including failed and zero-output runs, rework, starts/stops and cleaning. Retain unnormalized period totals, stage transfers, opening/closing stocks and work in progress (WIP), with their attributable burdens. The common denominator Q is accepted loaded net charcoal kg with stock, WIP, rejects and fines reconciled separately. Exclude opening stock produced outside the pool from Q, or carry its matched prior-production burdens; never divide current-period loads by unmatched shipment mass or omit failed-run burdens. Zero-output subperiods retain their burdens in a justified matched pool with positive Q; if the complete pool has no positive Q, report per-kg results unavailable rather than zero or dividing by zero. Pair measured moisture with each weighed lot. Every protocol retains raw totals; its aggregation-rule column states the final per-1-kg output basis. Reconcile physical totals and stage attribution, then apply campaign_normalization exactly once. Credit each accepted net lot once after returns and reacceptance; internal rework is not new product output.	cp_product; cp_wood; cp_utilities; cp_water; cp_residues; cp_air	Normalized inventory from raw matched-pool totals, or unavailable if Q is not positive	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985
dry_yield	wood_input; charcoal_output	For each lot m_dry = m_wet × (1 − w_wet_basis). Report dry-charge yield and total dry wood consumed including external wood firing separately; keep unconverted returns distinct without duplicate consumption.	cp_wood; cp_product	Dry-basis diagnostics; reference denominator unchanged	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985
emission_integration	all elementary outputs	Calculate raw period species mass as the time integral E_i = integral C_i(t) F(t) dt, where C_i is species mass concentration and F is gas volume flow rate. For interval gas volumes V_j already integrated over time, sum flow-weighted interval concentrations C_i,j times V_j; do not multiply V_j by duration again. C_i times a volume flow rate times interval duration is valid only for a justified constant or compatible interval-average basis. Match concentration/flow temperature-pressure and wet-dry bases and convert units explicitly to kg. Match operating phases and source origins; disclose detection-limit treatment and unresolved species.	cp_air; cp_utilities; cp_product	Raw actual campaign emission mass; apply campaign_normalization afterward exactly once	jrc-wgc-2023; epa-charcoal-1995
physical_balances	retort_unit	Retain wet-mass, dry-wood, total-carbon, water and heat ledgers; record combustion air/flue-gas throughput, reaction water, product/residue carbon, CO2/CO/CH4 and other carbon species, opening/closing stock and unmeasured residuals. Internal gas/condensate links have equal quantities at both ends and are not also external fuel inputs or air emissions.	cp_wood; cp_product; cp_utilities; cp_water; cp_residues; cp_air	Unallocated physical balances and residual explanation	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
actual_identity	all inventory rows	Declare actual species/route/supply state; successful UUID identity does not establish a complete background dataset.	Supplier primary records, direct identity and quantity-basis checks
completeness	retort_unit	Screen all external exchanges and additional measured species; disclose missing measurements, unresolved speciation/UUIDs and incompatible backgrounds individually, without claiming zero or complete validation.	Process map, full-cycle monitoring, physical balances and receiver records
representativeness	retort_unit	Document site, equipment, lot weights, season, moisture and start-up loads; single-plant and historical FAO/EPA data are not industry quantity defaults.	cp_product; cp_wood; cp_utilities; cp_air

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
validation_reference	charcoal_output	Exactly one reference product output: 1 kg net delivered charcoal; every row and collection protocol uses the same reference denominator with lot moisture qualifiers, excluding packaging tare and fixed-carbon-only mass.	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985
validation_boundary	retort_unit	Check route exclusions and actual equipment; each waste/emission is one atomic exchange with compatible medium/origin/provider basis. Expose unresolved identity/quantity instead of substituting a neighbouring industry candidate.	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985; jrc-wgc-2023
validation_emissions	elementary outputs	The three particle intervals are disjoint; cumulative PM10/total PM are reconciliation totals, not additional summed exchanges. Aggregate NOx needs NO/NO2 speciation, excluding N2O; total VOC/POM cannot replace actual species. Do not delete biogenic CO2 or duplicate captured and released material.	epa-charcoal-1995; jrc-wgc-2023
validation_balances	retort_unit	Preserve the unallocated stock, phase, water, independent C/H/O and gross heat ledgers specified in Section 5, equal internal return links and residuals; missing concentration/flow, unmatched gas volumes, unspecified waste receiver or unresolved source origin makes data-package validation incomplete.	fao-industrial-charcoal-1985

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset; background_dataset
downstream_use	Production inventory for charcoal within the declared scope; complete quantity compatibility before background linkage
allowed_use	Charcoal input with matched species/route/moisture/grade
excluded_use	Activated-carbon performance, briquette recipes, soil carbon-storage credits, pure-carbon substitution, other routes and direct liquid discharge
required_metadata	Reference qualifiers, site/campaign, single-product status, emission media/origins, provider quantity bases and all waste destinations
required_quality_disclosure	Measured coverage, physical-balance residuals, identity/speciation/background gaps, representativeness and uncertainty; unmeasured is not zero
update_trigger	Changes in feed/route, co-products/heat exports, grade/moisture, voltage/providers, controls/emissions or waste receivers

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-34510	official_guidance	UNSD CPC Version 3.0, subclass 34510 — Wood charcoal. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Structure/Detail/EN/2100/34510	Classification label only; no process, purity or quantity rule.
fao-industrial-charcoal-1985	handbook	FAO Forestry Paper 63, Industrial charcoal making (1985), chapters 2 and 3. https://www.fao.org/4/X5555E/x5555e03.htm ; https://www.fao.org/4/X5555E/x5555e04.htm	2.3 yield/measurement; 2.4–2.8 carbonization/heat recovery; 2.9.1 quality/composition/gross calorific bases; 2.9.2 aqueous and separate tar phases; 3.2–3.4 retorts. Historical examples establish physical methods only, not default temperatures, yields, recipes or energy.
epa-charcoal-1995	official_guidance	US EPA AP-42, Section 10.7 Charcoal, September 1995. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/documents/c10s07.pdf	10.7.1 manufacture and 10.7.2 emissions; printed 10.7-1, 10.7-5 and 10.7-6. Species/control screening only. Tables 10.7-1/2 are historical uncontrolled rating-E factors, not default emissions for this retort; briquette quantities excluded.
jrc-wgc-2023	official_guidance	European Commission JRC, WGC BREF (2023), Scope and BAT 2, 3, 8. https://bureau-industrial-transformation.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2023-01/WGC_BREF_2023_for_publishing%20ISSN%201831-9424_final_1_revised.pdf	Printed xx–xxii and 267–274 (PDF 26–28 and 295–302); waste-gas inventory, abnormal operation and matched monitoring design after chemical-sector applicability assessment. No automatic legal applicability, limit values, CO2 accounting exclusions or frequencies as LCI defaults.
profagus-retort-biochemicals	literature	proFagus, Biochemicals — Products for industry, producer primary webpage. https://profagus.de/en/biochemicals/	Plant primary evidence of wood retorts and chemical recovery, identifying a commercial co-product route requiring exclusion or reassessment; environmental marketing is not measured zero-emission or generic-yield evidence.
jrc-ilcd-2010	official_guidance	JRC ILCD Handbook, General guide for LCA — Detailed guidance, first edition March 2010, 7.9.3. https://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/uploads/ILCD-Handbook-General-guide-for-LCA-DETAILED-GUIDANCE-12March2010-ISBN-fin-v1.0-EN.pdf	Printed 257/PDF 277; physical-causality and subsequent market-value criteria for inseparable multifunctionality, constrained by goal/scope. This single-product route does not create co-product credits from internal gas.