Diagnostic analysis of the techniques of carbonization in Togo (West Africa)

The annual average quantity of the produced charcoal in Togo is 419 963 tons. But the wood densities of species used for charcoal production as well as the optimal yield of the production techniques are badly known. The objectives of this study are i) to determine the wood densities of the used species (priorities and alternatives) in carbonization in Togo, ii) to compare the yield of the traditional mound kiln and casamance improved mound kiln in the context of Togo and iii) to determine the optimal distance between the blowholes of the casamance improved mound kiln for the carbonization of heavy and very heavy species. Wood densities of used species in carbonization in Togo are determined by the AFNOR method. The comparison of the yield of carbonization techniques and the determination of the optimal distance between the blowholes of the casamance improved mound kiln for the carbonization of heavy and very heavy woods are achieved by the trial of carbonization. The results show that the priority species belong to two classes of wood density (semi-heavy wood and very heavy wood) and the alternative species belong to the class of lightweight wood density. Moreover the yield of the casamance improved mound kiln is significantly superior to the one of the traditional mound kiln (p= 0, 000). At last, the distances of 1.5 meters, 2 meters, 2.5 meters and 3 meters between the blowholes of the casamance improved mound kiln give all the good mass yield. But it is 2 meters distances that give fewer unburnt wood.

کلیدواژه ها:

Traditional mound kiln ، Casamance improved mound kiln ، Charcoal ، Wood density ، Blowholes ، Togo