Variation in Quantity of Heat Produced from Charcoal of Prosopis Africana, Tectona Grandis, and Burkea Africana Wood Species

Abstract

Variation in the quantity of heat produced from the charcoal of Prosopis africana, Tectona grandis, and Burkea africana wood species was investigated. This was done to determine whether differences in the species and parts of the trees have significant effect on quantity of heat from their charcoal samples. Data were collected using the copper calorimeter, a thermometer, an air tight burner and a weight balance. The results showed a gradual decrease in the quantity of heat produced as combustion time increased from 10 40 minutes in all wood species. Significant differences (p<0.05) in the quantity of heat produced both within and between the charcoal of all the wood species were also observed. Further investigation revealed that the base of all the samples produced more heat (p<0.05) within species followed by the bole and the crown. The between wood species showed that Prosopis africana produced more heat followed by Burkea africana and Tectona grandis which may be attributed to the impact of density as it is more concentrated at the base than any other part of the wood.