By: EMERHI A. E.;
Abstract:
This study aimed at investigating the calorific values of charcoal produced from G. arborea, T. grandis and P. macrophylla woods at different longitudinal and radial positions. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the longitudinal and radial position. Sapwood from G. arborea had the lowest calorific value (6772 kCal/kg) at the middle followed by the base sapwood (6939 kCal/kg), while the highest value was obtained at the top (7124 kCal/kg). Conversely, the middle sapwood of T. grandis had highest calorific value, followed by base sapwood while the top sapwood had the least. The same trend was observed in P. macrophylla. The heartwood had lowest calorific value at the middle with 6788, 7043 and 7121 kCal/kg for G. arborea, T. grandis and P. macrophylla, respectively. The calorific values for the heartwood from the base were 6960, 7419 and 7591 kCal/kg for G. arborea, T. grandis and P. macrophylla, respectively.
Keywords: Calorific values, Charcoal, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Sapwood, Heartwood
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