Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.33765/thate.16.4.2
VALORISATION OF INVASIVE WOODY WEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE CHARCOAL PRODUCTION: SPECIES-SPECIFIC PATHWAYS AND APPLICATION POTENTIALS
Egbonyi Etuki Eborty
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Environment Education, Nigeria
Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Works, Nigeria
Fredrick Awhen Opoh
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Social Studies and Civic Education, Nigeria
Remi Modupe Omoogun
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Environment Education, Nigeria
Agnes Edet Offiong
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Environment Education, Nigeria
Miebaka Nabiebu
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Law, Department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Nigeria
Jacob Otu Enya
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Law, Department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Nigeria
Christiana Aloye Ushie
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Environment Education, Nigeria
Augustine Onyi Ushie
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Environment Education, Nigeria
John Edwin Effiom
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Social Studies and Civic Education, Nigeria
*
Vincent Ita Oyamo
; University of Calabar, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, Department of Environment Education, Nigeria
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This study explores the sustainable valorisation and charcoal production potentials of three invasive weed species (IWS): Crotalaria spectabilis (CTS), Hibiscus trionum (HBT), and Sesbania herbacea (SSH) through carbonisation. IWS severely hamper agricultural productivity by outcompeting crops, destroying soil structure and increasing costs of weed control in Nigeria. Carbonisation presents a cost-effective, technologically efficient, and sustainable approach for the valorisation of each IWS into charcoal. Each sample was carbonised and analysed for morphological, mass-based, and energy-related properties after heating at 600 °C for 30 min under a limited oxidising environment using a muffle furnace. The resulting charcoals showed unique characteristics related to their anatomical morphologies and thermal behaviour. The mass yields (MY) ranged from 34.62 % ± 1.30 % to 42.93 % ± 2.63 %, bulk density (BD) from 131.50 kg/m3 ± 0.02 kg/m3 to 203.50 kg/m3 ± 0.01 kg/m3 and higher heating values (HHV) from 25.18 to 25.96 MJ/kg. Further analysis revealed that the specific morphology of IWS is critical for the mass and energy properties of their resulting charcoals' functionality, which supports policy strategies for IWS carbonisation into value-added products. Overall, the study shows that carbonisation of CTS, HBT, and SSH in charcoal is a practical approach to addressing their environmental impacts. Therefore, future studies could explore hybrid fuel formulations and applications of such charcoals in non-energy and functional materials applications.
Keywords
valorisation; carbonisation; Crotalaria spectabilis; Hibiscus trionum; Sesbania herbacea; invasive plants; weed management
Hrčak ID:
351118
URI
Publication date:
16.9.2026.
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