Soot is as old as fire. A dark, powder formed by incomplete burning of organic matter, it's used for centuries due to its easy availability and diverse applications in medicine, art and as a source of ink. Soot is primarily composed of carbon.
Soot particles can vary in size and composition, depending on the burning source and conditions. While often associated with pollution and health hazards, soot has a rich historical significance and a variety of modern applications.
Types of Soot
Soot is officially known as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon. It manifests different forms depending on its source. Soot is made of minuscule carbon particles formed through incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels, such as charred wood, oil or coal.
It contains various acids derived from chemicals, metals, soil and dust. These particles deposit a noticeable dark residue. A byproduct of combustion, it manifests in three main forms:
protein - animal based, leaves oily black residue
natural - usually plant-based matter, leaves powdery black residue
synthetic - this comes from plastics, rubber, polyester and other person-made materials and is toxic.
Varieties of soot include:
1. Lampblack
Historically known as one of the oldest forms of soot, lampblack is produced from the combustion of oils or fats in lamps. It's commonly used in ancient times for making inks and paint. It's also a type of carbon black.
Lampblack is highly prized for its deep black color and is still used today in art materials, including oil paints. It also comes in synthetic water-based acrylic paints. An excellent natural soot for ink is obtained by burning linseed oil.
Lampblack, the purest form of soot, has been historically revered for its deep black hue and light-absorbing properties. It finds extensive use in art forms such as calligraphy and painting, for its rich pigment quality. Lampblack is subtype of carbon black (described below).
2. Candle Soot
Candle soot forms when wax, primarily from paraffin or beeswax, burns incompletely. Much like lampblack, this type of soot can also be collected and used for creating black pigments.
Candle soot is less dense than lampblack and can have different properties depending on the type of candle and wick used. Beeswax is a natural source but burns with less soot than paraffin wax. Candle soot can be generated when candles burn inefficiently.
It has a unique composition applicable in various ways, including the creation of ink formulations. To collect candle soot hold an unburnable object, like a stainless steel spoon, over the flame(s).
I tried this method and gave up due to the high amount of ergs required for a very small return. Before electricity soot is ubiquitous today's scraping of spoons would make chimney sweeps laugh.
Wood Soot
A black, powdery substance that consists mainly of carbon and is formed through the incomplete combustion of wood, coal, diesel oil, or other materials.
Firewood with a moisture content of more than 20% produces 10 to 30 times more soot and particulate emissions than does dry, seasoned wood. Wood ashes can be added to gesso or even paints. Gathering soot from surfaces is just a matter of scraping it off.
Beware of Creosote
Soot and creosote are residues. They form when wood is burned and can build up in the flue liner of fireplaces and wood stoves. Creosote consists mainly of tars formed from incomplete burning of wood, while powder soot comes from inefficient combustion of oil, gas and wood.
Creosote can build up in chimney flues or wood stove pipes and cause house fires. If gathering soot from fireplace or wood stove, check pipes for creosote. It's more tarry than soot and sticks to the inside of fireplace flues, sometimes causing smoke to back up.
Historical Uses of Soot
Uses of soot extend back through human history. Ancient cultures use soot as a pigment for art in cave paintings and hieroglyphs. It's later employed in production of inks, paints, glazes, bases and coatings.
Black soot from fires can be part of religious rituals, body makeup and ceremonies. Soot is a component in traditional tattooing practices and body art. It's among the primary black pigments of ancient and medieval artists.
Art: The deep hue of soot-based pigments has graced the works of renowned artists, adding depth and intensity to their creations.
Beauty Products: Soot has featured in beauty regimens, with ancient civilizations using it to enhance features or create cosmetic embellishments. It's often used in eye liner. If collecting soot for this purpose make sure it's not corrupted.
Beauty Products
In recent years, soot as activated charcoal is more often found in beauty products, due to its reputed detoxification properties. Many skincare brands infuse their formulations with derived soot products for facial masks, scrubs, and cleansers.
It's based on the concept the absorbent properties of soot help draw out impurities and toxins from the skin, revealing a fresher complexion.
Medicinal Uses of Soot
According to the National Library of Medicine:
" ... A natural herbal medicine, plant soot, is certified to adsorb intestinal mycotoxin, inhibit bacterial infection and promote animal digestion. The plant soot is produced by carbonization and activation products from bits of Chinese fir, pine, or bamboo in raw wood processing."
Historically soot is used in traditional medicine, with applications ranging from wound treatment to folk remedies. The therapeutic properties attributed to soot, as well its ubiquitous presence until the 21st century, a versatile medical substance at minimal cost to the vendor.
Considered to have antiseptic properties, soot is applied in small amounts to treat wounds and abrasions. It's incorporated into poultices for healing and to relieve swelling and pain.
Medicinal uses of soot should be approached with caution, given modern understandings of health risks associated with soot inhalation. It's also important to understand where the soot comes from, as different sources have varying properties.
Gold-of-Pleasure: Bronze Age Crops - ancient source of vegetable oil for use in lamps
Natron - Ancient Embalming & Household Salts - used in ancient times to prevent soot
The Inuit matriarch tends the wick and feeds the flame. She can produce sooty or clean burning flame, hot or bright or soft and dim, depending on need. She passes her knowledge to the next woman in line for the matriarchy.
Hazards of Soot
While soot has a fascinating history and a variety of applications, it has certain health risks. Soot exposure can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues. This is particularly applicable to individuals with pre-existing conditions.
Fine particles penetrate lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Soot pollution is a factor in air quality degradation. Inhaling soot particles causes respiratory issues. Gathering soot from a candle flame is safe enough but not forty flames in an enclosed space.
Pregnant women should not gather or work with soot. For those with mild respiratory issues a filter mask should be worn, and anyone with serious or ongoing health conditions will be better off finding an alternative.
Carbon Black
The term is sometimes used interchangeably with soot, as they're both carbon based. Carbon black is the mother of black hues. Carbon black comes from the incomplete combustion of coal tar, vegetable matter, or petroleum products under limited air supply.
It has subtypes such as acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black and thermal black. Unlike soot, carbon black has a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio and a lower polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH, a precursor to soot) content.
As its volume ratio is not as high as that of activated carbon, it is a form of paracrystalline carbon. Carbon black is commonly used as a colorant and reinforcing filler, and pigment in paints, and inks. In EU, it's approved as a food colorant when sourced from vegetable matter.
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