Bioenergy Potential of Various Bamboo Species Carbonized in a Brick Kiln

Background and Objective: Bamboo, a renewable energy source, offers a long-term supply of quality raw material due to its excellent fuel wood properties. North-Eastern Region of India, the hub of naturally grown bamboo, is lacking behind in the technical knowledge of value addition in the form of bamboo charcoal, and hence the present study has been made to assess the fuel wood characteristics of different bamboo species carbonized in the Brick Kiln. Materials and Methods: Carbonization of bamboo was done by using the Brick Kiln method. Four commonly used/available bamboo species, viz., Bambusa tulda, Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa nutans, and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii were selected for the study. Fuel wood properties like Gross Calorific Value (GCV), fixed carbon content (FC), ash content (AC), and volatile matter content (VM) were studied using the standard test method for chemical analysis of wood charcoal (ASTM). Results: The highest calorific value (6973 Kcal/kg) was recorded in B. balcooa, and the lowest was recorded in B. tulda (6363.1 Kcal/kg). Among the four bamboo species, B. balcooa has shown excellent fuel wood properties, and it can be taken up as a suitable raw material for bioenergy production. Conclusion: The Brick Kiln method of charcoal production is safe, efficient, and simple, producing good quality charcoal with high calorific value and little ash. Among the four bamboo species, B. balcooa has shown excellent fuel wood properties.