Tazebew Ewunetu, Sato Shinjiro, Addisu Solomon, Bekele Eshetu, Alemu Asmamaw, Belay Berhanu
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
College of Agriculture, Food and Climate Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Heliyon. 2023 Sep 3;9(9):e19787. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19787. eCollection 2023 Sep.
Charcoal production from Acacia decurrens has shown considerable advantages for enhancing livelihoods and boosting government revenue in Ethiopia. However, the current reliance on unsustainable traditional Earth mound kilns diminishes these benefits, causing reduced charcoal income and notable environmental damage. Therefore, there is a pressing need to improve the traditional charcoal production system. The objectives of this study were evaluating different improved charcoal production approaches on charcoal conversion efficiency, financial profitability, and gas emission reduction potential compared to traditional charcoal making in the Fagta lokoma district, Ethiopia. Charcoal was produced from Acacia decurrens small-scale plantation, using improved kilns (Green mad retort, MRV portable steel, Casamance) and traditional Earth mound kilns, with three replications of production. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in charcoal conversion efficiency (at P ≤ 0.001), with the MRV steel kiln exhibiting the highest efficiency (41.57%), followed by the Green mad retort (36.14%) and Casamance (34.07%). Conversely, the traditional Earth mound kilns displayed the lowest conversion efficiency (24%). The findings demonstrated that improved charcoal-making kilns enhanced wood-to-charcoal conversion efficiency by 41-72% compared to traditional kilns. Moreover, the study reveals a significant increase in average charcoal income per hectare (at P ≤ 0.001), with higher earnings (284,824.4 ETB) at MRV steel kiln, and lower-income (71,580 ETB) at traditional Earth mound kilns. Improved charcoal-making kilns significantly (P ≤ 0.001) reduced harmful gas emissions compared to the traditional Earth mound method. Reduction percentages were substantial for various gases: CO (46-57.9%), CO (29.4-56.6%), NO (61.7-86.1%), NO (56.6-86.2%), SO (41-62.8%), and CH (35.7-57%). In coclusion, the improved kiln technology has substantially enhanced the efficiency of charcoal conversion, resulting in beneficial effects through emissions reduction. To champion sustainability and cultivate positive socio-economic outcomes, it is imperative to extensively adopt these eco-friendly kilns in areas where charcoal production is prominent.
在埃塞俄比亚，利用阿拉伯相思树生产木炭已显示出在改善生计和增加政府收入方面的显著优势。然而，目前对不可持续的传统土窑的依赖削弱了这些益处，导致木炭收入减少和明显的环境破坏。因此，迫切需要改进传统的木炭生产系统。本研究的目的是评估与埃塞俄比亚法格塔洛科马区传统木炭制作相比，不同改进的木炭生产方法在木炭转化效率、财务盈利能力和气体减排潜力方面的情况。木炭由阿拉伯相思树小规模种植园生产，使用改进窑炉（绿色疯式蒸馏器、MRV便携式钢窑、卡萨芒斯窑）和传统土窑，每种生产方式重复三次。统计分析表明，木炭转化效率显著提高（P≤0.001），MRV钢窑效率最高（41.57%），其次是绿色疯式蒸馏器（36.14%）和卡萨芒斯窑（34.07%）。相反，传统土窑的转化效率最低（24%）。研究结果表明，与传统窑炉相比，改进的木炭制作窑炉将木材到木炭的转化效率提高了41%-72%。此外，研究还显示每公顷木炭平均收入显著增加（P≤0.001），MRV钢窑收入较高（284,824.4埃塞俄比亚比尔），传统土窑收入较低（71,580埃塞俄比亚比尔）。与传统土窑方法相比，改进的木炭制作窑炉显著（P≤0.001）减少了有害气体排放。各种气体的减排百分比很高：一氧化碳（46%-57.9%）、一氧化碳（29.4%-56.6%）、一氧化氮（61.7%-86.1%）、一氧化氮（56.6%-86.2%）、二氧化硫（41%-62.8%）和甲烷（35.7%-57%）。总之，改进的窑炉技术大大提高了木炭转化效率，通过减排产生了有益效果。为了支持可持续发展并培育积极的社会经济成果，在木炭生产突出的地区广泛采用这些环保窑炉势在必行。
