Low cost, small-scale charcoal production in the Western Cape

Domestic grade charcoal with a fixed carbon content of at least 80 was successfully produced from the alien species Acacia Saligna. Carbonisation was effected using a Tongan drum kiln and average yields on a dry basis of 19.1 (excluding fines production) were attained. With fines included, the yield increased to 31.4 . It was shown that the earnings of woodcutters could increase by about 25 if they opted for charcoal production using this technology. Three kilns examined in the Western Cape proved to be more financially viable than the Tongan drum kiln. The Tongan kiln was however shown to have advantages over other technologies in charcoal production from invasive alien vegetation by unskilled labour.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Energy Research Centre

Year dc:date.issued

1990

Author dc:creator

• Clark, John Austin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Eberhard, Anton

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8285

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8285