Development of a low-emission 200-liter charcoal kiln for producing biochar and wood vinegar from bamboo: a comparison with traditional charcoal kilns for community use
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This research aimed to develop a 200-liter charcoal kiln designed for household-level production of biochar and wood vinegar. The thermal effciency was enhanced by modifying the condensation system to enable the reuse of pyrolysis gases as a co-fuel. The study comparatively analyzed the performance of the newly developed kiln and a traditional kiln commonly used in target communities. Furthermore, the properties of bamboo-derived biochar and wood vinegar produced by both kilns were evaluated.
The results showed that the improved 200-liter kiln produced biochar with a higher calorifc value (29.06 MJ/
kg) compared to the traditional kiln (26.78 MJ/kg). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that biochar from the developed kiln exhibited -OH and aromatic C-H functional group peaks, which were absent in the traditional kiln’s biochar. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, pore volume analyses, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that while the traditional kiln produced biochar with a higher surface area, some of its pores appeared clogged or narrow.
Regarding the wood vinegar, products from both kilns conformed to the Thai Community Product Standard
(TCPS 659/2553). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis demonstrated similar main constituents
in both samples; however, the wood vinegar from the developed kiln was darker and contained a higher amount of tar oil. This difference was attributed to variations in the cross-sectional area and heat exchange surface of the
condensation units. In terms of performance, the improved kiln required less time per production cycle and consumed
less fuel. Ultimately, communities can utilize the resulting biochar and wood vinegar in agriculture to reduce chemical
dependency and promote farming practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Article Details
References
Bureau of Environmental Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health (2012). Academic Manual on Guidelines for Business Operations that are Hazardous to Health, Type: Charcoal Burning or Charcoal Accumulation. Bangkok: Office of Printing, War Veterans Organization of Thailand.
Chambers, E., Hassall, M., Johnson, D., McGoran, C., Williams, O., Blair, A., Catlow, F., & Saha, B. (2025). From bamboo to biochar: A critical review of bamboo pyrolysis conditions and products with a focus on relevance to the developing world. RSC Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00800F
Ganesan, A., Rezazgui, O., Langlois, S., Boussabbeh, C., & Barnabe, S. (2025). Pyrolytic conversion of construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) wood wastes in Qu´ebec to biochar: Production, characterization, and identifying relevant stability indices for carbon sequestration. Science of the Total Environment, 965, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178650
Gani, A., Adlim, M., Rahmayani, R. F., Hanum, L., & Nabila, R. (2024). Preparation and characterization of coconut shell liquid smoke and the properties of preserving tofu. Kuwait Journal of Science, 51(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjs.2024.100289
Hamwong, W. (2024). Information Technology for Agriculture. Massive Open Online Course, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan. https://natres.skc.rmuti.ac.th/elibrary/uploads/files/67c6cb5a281207.27297954.pdf
Handiso, B., Pääkkönen, T., & Wilson, B. P. (2024). Effect of pyrolysis temperature on the physical and chemical characteristics of pine wood biochar. Waste Management Bulletin, 281- 287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2024.11.008
Kaewluan, S., Sriromreun, P., Jansri, S. N., Asadamongkon, P., & Chuichulcherm, S. (2021). Charcoal and Wood Vinegar Products from Hedge Bamboo by Using 200 Liters Community Charcoal Kiln Working with Gasified Biomass Burner. RaJabhat Chiang Mai Research Journal, 22(2), 229-245.
KosonRuangsan, AdchaHeman, Tasaroj, H., Reungrit, S., Kraisoda, P., Heman, W., & Ruangsan, S. (2022). Development of Wood Charcoal for Cooking Retort with Community Product Standards. Kalasin University Journal of Science Technology and Innovation, 1(1), 1 - 10.
Kumar, S., Rahman, M., Chenari Bouket, A., Ahadi, R., Meena, M., Bhupenchandra, I., Singh, U. B., Arutselvan, R., Kumar, R., Singh, S. P., Kashyap, A. S., Tripathi, R., Gupta, S., Dutta, P., Harish, Singh, R., & Swapnil, P. (2025). Unravelling the multifarious role of wood vinegar made from waste biomass in plant growth promotion, biotic stress tolerance, and sustainable agriculture. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 185, 106851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2024.106851
Leng, L., Xiong, Q., Yang, L., Li, H., Zhou, Y., Zhang, W., Jiang, S., Li, H., & Huang, H. (2021). An overview on engineering the surface area and porosity of biochar. Science of the Total Environment, 763, 144204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144204
Moonsri, P., & Hutem, A. (2018). Development of wood vinegar production from local wisdom in Phetchabun Province for organic agriculture utilization. Journal of Science & Technology Phetchabun Rajabhat University, 3(1), 13-31.
Muoghalu, C., Kaboggoza, H. C., Semiyaga, S., & Manga, M. (2025). Adsorptive removal of organics and nutrients from septic tank effluent using oak wood chip biochar: Kinetic analysis and numerical modeling. Cleaner Water, 3.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100073
Namaswa, T., Burslem, D. F., & Smith, J. (2023). Emerging trends in appropriate kiln designs for small-scale biochar production in low to middle income countries. Bioresource Technology Reports, 24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2023.101641
National Innovation Agency. (2019). Manual for constructing a 200-liter horizontal charcoal kiln. https://social.nia.or.th/
Office of Industrial Product Standards. (2010). Community product standard: Wood vinegar (TCPS 659/2553).
Pimenta, A. S., Fasciotti, M., Monteiro, T. V., & Lima, K. M. (2018). Chemical Composition of Pyroligneous Acid Obtained from Eucalyptus GG100 Clone. Molecules, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020426
Sangsuk, S., Buathong, C., & Suebsiri, S. (2023). Modified Iwate kiln for production of good quality charcoal and high volume of wood vinegar. Fuel Communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfueco.2023.100095
Shezi, M., & Kiambi, S. L. (2025). Isothermal Pyrolysis of Bamboo and Pinewood Biomass: Product Characterization and Comparative Study in a Fluidized Bed Reactor. Bioengineering, 12(2), 99. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12020099
Sparrevik, M., Adam, C., Martinsen, V., Jubaedah, & Cornelissen, G. (2015). Emissions of gases and particles from charcoal/biochar production in rural areas using medium-sized traditional and improved “retort” kilns. Biomass and Bioenergy, 72, 65–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.11.016
Sunphorka, S., & Yangsawang, W. (2023). Biochar and Wood Vinegar Production from Pineapple Leaves Using Low-emission 200-liter Kiln and the Feasibility Study of Production. Journal of Engineering and Digital Technology (JEDT), 1 - 13.
Tsiklios, C., Hermesmann, M., Stumm, P., & Müller, T. E. (2025). Comparative analysis of hydrogen vs. methane pipeline transport systems with integrated methane pyrolysis for low-carbon hydrogen supply. Applied Energy, 383.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125276
Thawon, K., Sriromreum, P., & Kaewluan, S. (2020). Performance and emission study of 200 L charcoal kiln with gasifier burner. Paper presented at the 13th Srinakharinwirot University Research Conference, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Vinturelle, R., Cabral, T. d., Oliveira, P. C., Salles, J. P., Faria, J. V., Teixeira, G. P., . . . Chagas, E. F. (2024). Slow pyrolysis of Terminalia catappa L. municipal solid waste and the use of the aqueous fraction produced for bovine mastitis control. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101704.
Yadav, S. P. S., Bhandari, S., Bhatta, D., Poudel, A., Bhattarai, S., Yadav, P., Ghimire, N., Paudel, P., Paudel, P., Shrestha, J., & Oli, B. (2023). Biochar application: A sustainable approach to improve soil health. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 11, 100498.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100498
Yavari, S., Malakahmad, A., & Sapari, N. B. (2015). Biochar efficiency in pesticides sorption as a function of production variables—a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 13824–13841.
Zhu, Y., Cheng, S., Wang, P., Chen, H., Zhang, X., Liu, L., Li, X. & Ding, Y. (2020). A possible environmental-friendly removal of Microcystis aeruginosa by using pyroligneous acid. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111159
