Effect of Carbonization Temperatures on the Proximate Composition of Powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla Pod

Pentaclethra macrophylla pod, Carbonization, Temperature, Fixed carbon

Authors

  • I.C.C Iloabachie Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • C.K. Dimson Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • V.C. Uwabuike Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • A.M. Nwankwo Works and Engineering Services, Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Anambra State, Nigeria.
April 21, 2026
April 28, 2026

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Pentaclethra macrophylla (African oil bean) pod is an abundant lingo-cellulosic agro‑residue in West Africa with growing interest as a precursor for bio-char, adsorbents and friction materials. However, the influence of carbonization temperature on its proximate composition, which governs fuel quality and materials performance, remains poorly documented. This study investigates the effect of carbonization temperature on the moisture, volatile matter, ash and fixed carbon contents of powdered P. macrophylla pod. Dried pods were cleaned, oven‑dried at 110 °C, pulverized and sieved, then divided into un‑carbonized and carbonized fractions. Carbonization was performed in an inert atmosphere at 600 and 950 °C using an earthen pot in an electric furnace with 3 h soaking time followed by controlled cooling. Proximate analysis was conducted according to ASTM E871, E872 and E1755 to determine moisture, volatile matter and ash contents, while fixed carbon was obtained by difference. Increasing carbonization temperature markedly reduced moisture and volatile matter, while enhancing fixed carbon and ash contents relative to the raw pods. The higher temperature (950 °C) produced chars with significantly higher fixed carbon and lower volatiles than 600 °C, indicating improved suitability for high‑temperature applications such as friction materials, refractories and solid bio-fuels. The resulting temperature–composition relationships provide a basis for selecting carbonization conditions tailored to specific energy, environmental and composite applications of P. macrophylla pod–derived carbon materials.