Performance and economic evaluation of a locally fabricated biochar kiln for sustainable production from agricultural residues in Ghana
Article Main
Abstract
Biochar has gained attention due to its potential to improve soil carbon storage and mitigate climate change. However, to encourage widespread adoption, biochar production must be cost-efficient and easily accessible, particularly from farm residues. The present study evaluates the performance of a self-energy-recirculating, locally fabricated biochar kiln using five feedstocks: maize cob, rice husk, coconut shell, and flamboyant pods. The specialised kiln can char all organic-based feedstocks, regardless of the particle size. The focus was on energy use efficiency, biochar yield, and the quality of the produced biochar. The study used a slow pyrolysis ranging from 300 ˚C to 600 ˚C. Results showed that biochar quality varied across feedstocks, with coconut shells and rice husks requiring more energy but yielding higher amounts of biochar than flamboyant pods, maize cob, and maize stover. Economic analysis indicated that coconut shells and maize cob were the most profitable feedstocks, with profit margins of 57.05% and 76.96% and internal rates of return of 3.75 and 1.84, respectively. This suggests that while some feedstocks are more energy-intensive, they offer higher financial returns. Further studies on the environmental benefits of these biochars, both short-term and long-term, are necessary. The findings of this study provide a basis for the development of kilns suited to local conditions, promoting the economical production of biochar from agricultural residues.
Article Details
Article Details
Keywords
Locally fabricated biochar kiln, Biochar production efficiency, Farm residue, Climate change mitigation
References
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Chaudhary, H., Dinakaran, J., & Rao, K. S. (2024). Comparative analysis of biochar production methods and their impacts on biochar physico-chemical properties and adsorption of heavy metals. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12(3), 113003. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.113003
Chen, W., Wu, Z., Liu, C., Zhang, Z., & Liu, X. (2023). Biochar combined with Bacillus subtilis SL-44 as an eco-friendly strategy to improve soil fertility, reduce Fusarium wilt, and promote radish growth. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 251, 114509. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114509
Dambaulova, G. K., Madin, V. A., Utebayeva, Z. A., Baimyrzaeva, M. K., & Shora, L. Z. (2023). Benefits of automated pig feeding system: A simplified cost-benefit analysis in the context of Kazakhstan. Veterinary World, 16(11), 2205-2209. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2023.2205-2209
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Danso, F., Agyare, W. A., & Bart-Plange, A. (2023). Benefits and costs of cultivating rice using biochar-inorganic fertilizer combinations. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 11, 100491. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100491
Dhingra, G., & Kumar, A. (2025). Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Cutting-Edge Technologies to Combat Climate Change. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 75, 104226. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2025.104226
Fan, Y., Lv, G., Chen, Y., Chang, Y., & Li, Z. (2023). Differential effects of cow dung and its Biochar on Populus euphratica soil phosphorus effectiveness, bacterial community diversity, and functional genes for phosphorus conversion. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1242469
FAO. (2017). The State of Food and Agriculture 2017. Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://doi.org/10.18356/24c57989-en
Geronimo, C., Vergara, S. E., Chamberlin, C., & Fingerman, K. (2022). Overlooked emissions: Influence of environmental variables on greenhouse gas generation from woody biomass storage. Fuel, 319, 123839. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123839
Gezahegn, S., Sain, M., & Thomas, S. C. (2019). Variation in feedstock wood chemistry strongly influences Biochar liming potential. Soil Systems, 3(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3020026
Guvava, G., Manyuchi, M., Sukdeo, N., & Mbohwa, C. (2022). Sewage sludge valorisation to biochar through carbonization as a way of promoting a circular economy in municipal sewage plants. https://doi.org/10.46254/IN02.20220601
Ha, R. R. (2025). Methodology: Cost-benefit analysis. In Reference Module in Life Sciences. Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-29068-8.00100-8
Hidayah, E., Widiarti, W. Y., Wiyono, R. U. A., Dermawan, V., Fadhilah, D., & Tahir, W. (2024). Benefit–cost analysis of a low-impact development design. Water Practice and Technology, 19(2), 502-518. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2024.017
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Performance and economic evaluation of a locally fabricated biochar kiln for sustainable production from agricultural residues in Ghana. (2025). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 17(2), 622-637. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v17i2.6427
