Thermal and mechanical characteristics of local firewood species and resulting charcoal produced by slow pyrolysis
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
Abstract
The main source of fuel for domestic cooking applications in Sub-Saharan Africa is either locally available firewood species
or charcoal produced by slow pyrolysis of these species. However, very few studies exist that characterize and quantify
physical properties, burning rates, peak temperatures, and calorific values of typical firewood species and resulting charcoal
fuels produced by slow pyrolysis. This study evaluated the mechanical and thermal properties of firewood and charcoal
from five tree species namely: Dichrostachys cinerea, Morus Lactea, Piliostigma thonningii, Combretum molle, and Albizia
grandibracteata. Characterization was done by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, bomb calorimetry,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, bulk density measurements, and durability, water boiling and absorption tests.
SEM images showed the development of macropores on charcoal after slow pyrolysis. Peak temperatures during firewood
and charcoal combustion ranged between 515.5–621.8 °C and 741.6–785.9 °C, respectively. Maximum flame temperatures
ranged between 786.9–870.8 °C for firewood and 634.4–737.3 °C for charcoal. Bulk densities and calorific values of charcoal
species were higher than those for firewood species. Drop strengths for firewood were all 100% while for charcoal were
between 93.7 and 100%. Water boiling tests indicated that firewood fuel performed better that charcoal fuel for low amounts
of water due to higher maximum flame temperatures obtained during combustion of firewood.
Description
Keywords
Charcoal, Firewood, Maximum Flame Temperature, Peak Temperatures, Pyrolysis, Thermogravimetric analysis
Citation
Lubwama, M., Yiga, V. A., Ssempijja, I., & Lubwama, H. N. (2021). Thermal and mechanical characteristics of local firewood species and resulting charcoal produced by slow pyrolysis. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01840-z