Research

2020-2021: Optimization of Process Parameters for Charcoal Production from Jute Sticks @ KUET

• Jute is known as golden fibers in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the largest exporters of jute around the world. In 2017-18 premises, Bangladesh produced around 1655.8 thousand tons of jute fiber which had been 51.76% of the world’s production. Sticks that are derived from jute fiber had no economic value to the farmers other than used for cooking. Therefore, these sticks can be considered as agricultural wastes. However, a new immerging sector has risen that can convert these sticks into charcoal. Jute sticks possess a similar type of composition as other lignocellulosic materials such as hardwood. Therefore, Jute sticks can be considered as an ideal source for charcoal production. These converted charcoals are widely used to produce life-saving drugs, printing inks, cosmetics, medicines, water purifiers, paints, fuels, etc. The current technology used to produce charcoal in Bangladesh is very primitive and the conversation rate of charcoal is low. If we could increase the percentage of production rate even at a marginal level, it could have a high impact on charcoal production industrially. Aiming with this motivation, this research project performs an analysis to identify the effect of temperature as well as the hemicellulose percentage of jute stick charcoal production on a laboratory scale.

Project Director: Dr. Md Abdullah Al Bari

Research Assistant: Shadman Tahsin Nabil

Funded By: University Grant Comission, Bangladesh