The Characterization of Wood Species from Mozambique as a Fuel

Abstract

The efficient utilization of fuelwood as a source of energy is strongly dependent on the properties of the biomass. This study characterizes common hardwood species from Mozambique and evaluates their quality as a fuel. Disc samples, taken at breast height, from Afzelia quanzensis Welwn, Millettia stuhlmannii Taub, Pterocarpus angolensis DC, Sterculia appendiculata K. Schum, Pericopsis angolensis Meeuwen, Acacia nigrescens Oliv., Pseudolachostylis maprounaefolia Pax, and Icuria dunensis Wieringa, were collected from three provinces in Mozambique. Chemical and physical properties were analyzed. The raking of the species as fuel was performed using fuelwood value index. The higher heating value varied between 19.38 and 21.50 MJ/kg dry weight. The concentration of lignin ranged from 21.96 up to 36.69% weight dry basis (wt% d.b.), and ash free. All studied species showed very low concentrations of Si, S, and Cl. Ash content varied between 0.76–3.71 wt% (d.b.), while the basic density ranged from 536 to 1,111 k gm−3. Heavy metals were also determined and their concentrations were below the values reported in the literature. The species Acacia nigrescens had the highest fuelwood value index and it was closely followed by Icuria dunensis and Millettia stuhlmannii. The worst ranked was Sterculia appendiculata.