Can citrus fruit peelings serve as a substitute for charcoal?

Question

It is my topic proposal for my investigatory project in biology for school. It was supposedly heated in an oven to make potpourri, but it was overheated and all the peelings turned extremely black. I then wondered if it can actually be used as charcoal.

Along with the answer, may I know if anyone of you know any websites which can help me regarding both items? (Charcoal and citrus fruit peelings properties)

Answer 1

I think that if you want to use any biomass as charcoal, including orange peels, you'll need to go back and re-heat the orange peels in the abscence of oxygen.  If you just put it in the oven and bake it until its black you will also destroy the compounds available for combustion later.

Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is produced by heating wood, or other substances in the absence of oxygen The soft, brittle, lightweight, black, porous material resembles coal and is 85% to 98% carbon with the remainder consisting of volatile chemicals and ash.