THERMAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CHARCOAL PRODUCED IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Charcoal was produced from three different species of wood (Albizia pedicellaris, Tectona grandis and Daniella oliverii) from three different towns in Kwara State, Nigeria. The wood samples and their respective charcoal samples were subjected to thermal and physico-chemical analysis to determine the effect of carbonization on woody biomass as a source of thermochemical energy. The results from the ultimate analysis showed that charcoal had higher percentage composition of carbon (69.4% - 75%) while wood recorded lower percentage of carbon (48.5% to 55%).