Title: Characterization of gaseous emissions from the combustion of some common charcoal in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

In the developing countries of the world like Nigeria charcoal is a common source of fuel that is extensively used and this can leads to the emission of various pollutants which are harmful to human health. The aim of this study is to characterize the gaseous emission from the combustion of some common wood charcoal species in southwestern Nigeria and to determine the best wood for charcoal using E8500 portable industrial combustion analyzer. The scope of this work is limited to southwestern, Nigeria. The common charcoal samples from Southwestern Nigeria were collected from charcoal producers. Proper identification was done with the assistance of charcoal producers. The scientific names and the species names were sourced from the literature. Upon identification, charcoals were taken to the laboratory for preparation of the charcoal samples. The charcoals were subjected to open burning and the emissions for each were recorded. The criteria pollutants emissions from this study are CO, HC, NO, and NOx The results obtained showed that the emission factor were of the range 4.850 – 26.392 g/kg with an arithmetic mean of 17.092±7.483 g/kg for CO, 8.58×10−4 – 3.01×10−4 g/kg with an arithmetic mean of 4.85×10−4±1.631×10−4 g/kg for HC, 0 – 1.84×10−2 g/kg with an arithmetic mean of 3.28×10−3±5.948×10−3 g/kg for NO and 0 – 1.84×10−2 g/kg with an arithmetic mean of 3.28×10−3±5.948×10−3 g/kg for NOx. The maximum impact on CO was from Vitellaria paradoxum, the maximum impact on HC, NO and NOx was from Albizia zygia. The minimum impact on CO and HC was from Milletia thoninngii, the minimum impact on NO, NOx was from Funtumia elastic. Hence it shows that Milletia thonningii will be the best wood for Charcoal that will give the minimum impact on the health of the users.