Ultimate and Elemental Analysis of Some Common Charcoal in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Common charcoals from different wood species were collected, identified and prepared for analysis. Ultimate and elemental analyses were carried out. In this study, identified charcoal were characterized. The result showed that in the ultimate analysis, Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen are the major content of the charcoal samples and are of great importance for the heating value. Sulphur and Nitrogen content were resent in low in quantity. XRF was used in the elemental analysis and the following elements were detected (Na, Cr, Ni, Cd, Al, K, Mn, P, Ca, Si, Mg, Ti, Fe) In the charcoal samples, the percentages of Si and Al are high while the percentages of (Cd, Fe, Na, Ti, Ni, Mg, P, K, Cr) were low. Percentage of silicon was between 50% to 65% in Albizia zygia, Milicia excelsa, Terminalia avicennioides, Funtumia elastica, Milletia thonningii and Hevea brsiliensis with Hevea brasiliensis having the highest which suggested high slagging propensity. Anogeissus leiocarpa, Afzelia bipindensis, Vitellia paradoxum, and Burkea africana have high Na/K. The ratio of Ca/ Mg is greater than 2 in all the samples. LOI ranges from 54.56 – 7.88% with a mean of 25.978±22.909%.