Elizabeth Von-Kiti, Ph.D.

Arbeitsvorhaben

Establishing Criteria and Organizing Guidelines for Advancing Standards in Biochar Production and Consumption Using Renewable and Innovative Clean Alternatives

Biomass is the primary energy source for cooking and heating in many developing countries, including Ghana, where nearly 70% of the population rely on fuelwood, charcoal, animal droppings, and agricultural waste. While biomass is a renewable energy option, the development of sustainable alternatives, particularly when it is from waste, is crucial because of significant environmental and health benefits, as overdependence on fuelwood has implications such as deforestation, exposure to harmful gases, and fine particulate matter. Biochar, a carbon-rich byproduct of pyrolysis, is gaining recognition as a sustainable and promising solution for waste management and climate action, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. With growing demand, biochar production is expected to rise, necessitating the adoption of safer and more efficient production technologies.
The calorific value of biomass fuels is a critical indicator of their energy efficiency and usability, as it directly influences fuel performance, consumption rates, and emissions. This energy content is largely driven by compositional factors such as fixed carbon, volatile matter, moisture, and ash content, which can vary widely depending on feedstock and production conditions, underscoring the need for standardized quality benchmarks. The lack of standardized product certifications for solid fuels in Africa poses a challenge in ensuring the quality of biochar and its compliance with regulations, hindering its widespread acceptance as a viable energy feedstock.
This project proposes the need for an established criteria for the development of uniform guidelines to serve as a framework to advance the development of biochar standards. This will facilitate sustainable production and use, comprehensively addressing environmental and health issues associated with traditional biomass use. Standardization is essential for product quality, regulatory compliance, and the long-term growth of the biochar market in the region.

Recommended Reading

Von-Kiti, Elizabeth, William Owusu Oduro, Maame Adwoa Animpong, et al. (2023). “Evidence of Electronic Influence in the Adsorption of Cationic and Zwitterionic Dyes on Zeolites.” Heliyon 9 (9): e20049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20049.
Oduro, William Owusu, Elizabeth Von-Kiti, Maame Adwoa Bentumah Aminpong, et al. (2024). “Production of Sustainable Fuel Briquettes from the Co-carbonization of Sewage Sludge Derived from Wastewater Treatment and Wood Shavings as a Sustainable Solid Fuel for Heating Energy.” South African Journal of Chemical Engineering 50: 437–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2024.09.011.
Von-Kiti, Elizabeth, William Owusu Oduro, Michael Effui Sewordor, Leonard Benjamin Ocran, Emmanuel Nii Lamptey, and Bright KwakyeAwuah (2025). “Metal Composition in the Biomass Influences the Surface Properties of Activated Carbons in the Adsorption of Different Dyes.” Water Practice & Technology 20 (7): 1603–1618. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2025.091.