Organic charcoal as a source of energy and natural fertilization

Charcoal production with rice husks

For our own soil mixture production great amounts of charcoal dust are needed. Obtaining this raw product is not a problem as local bakeries and mechinal drum dryers are constantly being fuelled with rice husks. Rice husks never burn completely, leaving a mixture of charcoal and ashes which is perfectely fit for our soil mixture. The picture on the left demonstrates a primitive but easy method to produce charcoal. The overall charcoal output of this method is very high. Rice husks can be obtained easily from the rice mills. Usually these are just being stacked and burned during times of dry weather. The use of charcoal in a fertilizer mixture causes carbon to be stored in the soil and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Charcoal made from rice husks is unfortunately not possible to use for cooking because the amount of unburnable silicates (SiO2) is as high as 56%, with a carbon amount of only about 40%. This is different for many other farming byproducts, which are also often unnecessarily wasted. Emptied cornbuds, palm branches, coconut shells and bamboo rubble among other things also work perfectily for the production of charcoal. Their energy value per kilogramm can easily compete with convential coal resources.. The process seen in the picture to the right shows a metal barel with a smaller metal container which was filled with wood remnants, cornbuds, leaves and so on. The gaps leading to the bigger metal barel will be filled up with rice husks and set on fire. Horizontal and vertical metal pipes guarantee a controlled constant supply of oxygen. The color of the outcoming smoke indicates the time when the pyrolisis process has finished. The inner metal container must then be filled with sand immediately to prohibit the readily produced charcoal from burning up.

Charcoal production with a metal container. External energy is provided by rice husks.

Charcoal production in the mechanical drum dryer

We have already constructed a prototype of a mechanical drum dryer which we fuel with rice husks like the local bakeries fuel their furnace. Equipped with a chimney,  there is a container made of higher quality steel inside which can be opened through a hexagonal metal hatch on the outside.  If the hatch is opened a little it can already be used for baking, frying and for the high temperature drying process. Closing the hatch again turns the machine in to a highly effective charcoal production device. In only two hours 5-7 kilograms of high quality charcoal can be produced, so to say as a byproduct of everything else. An additional technical effort would enable the same facility to produce biogas As we are already busy with other important matters like our demonstration farm and the further processing of our goods, it is not possible to construct a commercial mechanical drum dryer right now due to a lack of time and funding. Still, this project remains one of our top future priorities.

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