Fuel from the Fields: Charcoal from agricultural waste
Practical Action
Raw material
Charcoal can be produced from any appropriate agricultural waste. The FftF team encourage the
use of biomass that has no other value – that is unsuitable for animal or human consumption, or
for composting. In Haiti, bagasse (dried sugar cane) is a readily available by-product of sugar
production. In other countries, we have tested corn cobs, palm fronds and coconut shells, but
other crop wastes may also be used.
One full oil drum needs about 16kg of crop waste, and will produce about 4kg of charcoal.
The equipment
The FftF technology has been deliberately designed in
collaboration with Haitian farmers and technicians to be an
appropriate technology. All materials are readily available in the
developing world; the technology can be manufactured using
simple tools and welding equipment; the total equipment cost is
$20-40 (All prices are quoted in US dollars).
A 55-gallon steel oil drum (figure 2). This forms the kiln, in
which the waste is burned, to produce charcoal. Oil drums are
used to transport crude oil and other materials throughout the
developing world; they are readily available and cheap, costing
around $10-20. A lid for the oil drum is also needed, which can
be made out of scrap metal.
A briquette press (figure 3). This is a small, cheap impact press,
which costs around $2-3 in the developing world, and is used to
make briquettes from carbonised powder.
Figure 2: A steel oil drum
with lid forms the kiln.
Photo credit: Fuel from the
Fields.
Figure 3: A briquette press,
made from angle iron and
sheet metal. Photo credit: Fuel
from the Fields.
Other required materials:
• A long, straight object like a stick – to create a
central chimney in the oil drum; it should be taller
than the oil drum, and as wide as a fist in diameter.
• Three bricks or flat stones about the same size.
• Rice bags or other large bags - to crush the charcoal
powder in.
• Grated cassava, or some other starch - to make
strong briquettes, a small quantity of starch binder
must be added to the charcoal powder. Grated
cassava porridge is ideal, although any other starch
(e.g. cornflour or cassava flour) can be used.
• A basin – to mix the charcoal powder with the starch
porridge.
• Matches – to set fire to the agricultural waste.
• Sand, mud or dirt – to help create an airtight seal
around the drum.
Preparing the equipment
The oil drum
The first time you make charcoal, the 55-gallon oil drum must be turned into a kiln. To do so, cut
one large hole in the top (this is a loading hole), and a number of small holes in the bottom (these
are air holes).
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