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Waste to Carbon: Biocoal from Elephant Dung as New Cooking Fuel

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  • Paweł Stępień

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Kacper Świechowski

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Martyna Hnat

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Szymon Kugler

    (Polymer Institute, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, 10 Pułaskiego Str., 70-322 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Jacek A. Koziel

    (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3270, USA)

  • Piotr Manczarski

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Building Services, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warszawa, Poland)

  • Andrzej Białowiec

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37a Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
    Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3270, USA)

Abstract

The paper presents, for the first time, the results of fuel characteristics of biochars from torrefaction (a.k.a., roasting or low-temperature pyrolysis) of elephant dung (manure). Elephant dung could be processed and valorized by torrefaction to produce fuel with improved qualities for cooking. The work aimed to examine the possibility of using torrefaction to (1) valorize elephant waste and to (2) determine the impact of technological parameters (temperature and duration of the torrefaction process) on the waste conversion rate and fuel properties of resulting biochar (biocoal). In addition, the influence of temperature on the kinetics of the torrefaction and its energy consumption was examined. The lab-scale experiment was based on the production of biocoals at six temperatures (200–300 °C; 20 °C interval) and three process durations of the torrefaction (20, 40, 60 min). The generated biocoals were characterized in terms of moisture content, organic matter, ash, and higher heating values. In addition, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analyses were also used for process kinetics assessment. The results show that torrefaction is a feasible method for elephant dung valorization and it could be used as fuel. The process temperature ranging from 200 to 260 °C did not affect the key fuel properties (high heating value, HHV , HHV daf , regardless of the process duration), i.e., important practical information for proposed low-tech applications. However, the higher heating values of the biocoal decreased above 260 °C. Further research is needed regarding the torrefaction of elephant dung focused on scaling up, techno-economic analyses, and the possibility of improving access to reliable energy sources in rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Paweł Stępień & Kacper Świechowski & Martyna Hnat & Szymon Kugler & Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska & Jacek A. Koziel & Piotr Manczarski & Andrzej Białowiec, 2019. "Waste to Carbon: Biocoal from Elephant Dung as New Cooking Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-32, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:22:p:4344-:d:287094
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Kacper Świechowski & Martyna Hnat & Paweł Stępień & Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska & Szymon Kugler & Jacek A. Koziel & Andrzej Białowiec, 2020. "Waste to Energy: Solid Fuel Production from Biogas Plant Digestate and Sewage Sludge by Torrefaction-Process Kinetics, Fuel Properties, and Energy Balance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-37, June.
    5. Izabella Maj & Sylwester Kalisz & Szymon Ciukaj, 2022. "Properties of Animal-Origin Ash—A Valuable Material for Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Kacper Świechowski & Ewa Syguła & Jacek A. Koziel & Paweł Stępień & Szymon Kugler & Piotr Manczarski & Andrzej Białowiec, 2020. "Low-Temperature Pyrolysis of Municipal Solid Waste Components and Refuse-Derived Fuel—Process Efficiency and Fuel Properties of Carbonized Solid Fuel," Data, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-8, May.
    7. Bartosz Matyjewicz & Kacper Świechowski & Jacek A. Koziel & Andrzej Białowiec, 2020. "Proof-of-Concept of High-Pressure Torrefaction for Improvement of Pelletized Biomass Fuel Properties and Process Cost Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-27, September.
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