fuliggine

Fuliggine, also known as soot, is a black or dark brown powder produced by incomplete combustion of organic materials such as coal, oil, wood or biomass. It consists mainly of carbon in various forms (elemental carbon, graphitic structures) and of a complex mixture of organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as inorganic ash in variable amounts. The particles are extremely fine and can form aggregates; they are a component of smoke and of fine particulate matter (PM).

Fuliggine is produced in engines (diesel engines, gas turbines), domestic heating systems, industrial furnaces, and during wildfires or agricultural burning. The size of particles ranges from a few nanometers to tens of micrometers, with PM2.5 and PM10 fractions of particular interest for health and air quality.

Historically, fuliggine has been used as a pigment known as lampblack, in inks and paints, and as a reducing agent in metallurgical processes. In modern contexts its environmental and health impacts are more prominent, leading to emission controls and regulations to limit soot formation and release.

Health and environmental aspects: inhalation of soot particles can penetrate the respiratory tract, contributing to inflammation, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Soot is also a significant climate forcer because black carbon absorbs sunlight, warming the atmosphere and reducing the reflectivity of snow and ice when deposited.