WHY

Bosveld

Charcoal

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CHARCOAL INDUSTRY AND WHY BOSVELD CHARCOAL

BOSVELD CHAROCAL supports small scale famers who are contracted to harvest and produce charcoal from invasive and encroachment timber species.

BOSVELD CHARCOAL only uses invasive and environmentally harmful timber species. With use of these species and their eradication, Bosveld Charcoal helps preserve desperately needed ground water, improves soil conditions and grazing for livestock.

The charcoal industry directly employs over 12,400 people, meaning over 49,000 people indirectly depend on the industry’s survival.

Charcoal is an organic and valuable carbon material with many uses. Heating, cooking, pharmaceuticals, water filtration, gold mining, gardening, agricultural, cosmetics and art.

BOSVELD CHARCOAL products are HIGH in fixed carbon with NO nasty added chemicals.

BOSVELD CHARCOAL products are consistently graded for quality and sizing making sure of an even burn for the best cooking results.

BOSVELD CHARCOAL products are quicker and easier to light. Once they get to optimum temperature, they are long lasting.

BOSVELD CHARCOAL products are odorless, low in ash and volatilities making them safe to use for braai’ing.

Charcoal is carbon-rich and can be used for gardening, horticultural and agricultural purposes. It promotes soil nourishment, conditioning and structure for better growing and yielding plants.

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CHARCOAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Average of +/-74 days to produce a bag of charcoal – from standing tree to your braai.

1

Only invasive and encroachment hardwood species are identified for harvesting. These trees are cut from agricultural land. The removal of these species is important to maintaining a healthy water table, soil condition and improving grazing for livestock.

2

After the Invasive and encroachment timber is harvested, it is in-field stacked and allowed to dry until moisture content of the timber is below 10%. This normally take 2/3 months.

3

Once timber has reached the desired moisture content, it is transported to the kllins to be converted to charcoal using an age old method of pyrolysis (carbonisation).

4

The timber is stacked with starter material in a kiln. The starter material is ignited, and the timber burns for about 2.3 hours at temperatures above 500°C. Then, the kiln vents are closed, depriving the fire of oxygen and extinguishing it. This usually takes around 60 hours.

5

Afterward, the kiln doors are opened, and the charcoal cools to room temperature over 12 hours.

6

Once the charcoal has cooled down, it is manually removed from the kilns and bagged, awaiting transport to screening and processing plant.

7

Upon arrival at the screening plant, the charcoal is screened to remove dust, all small pieces and foreign materials and sorted into 3 size categories.

8

During the screening process, dozens of samples are taken and sent to an independent laboratory for quality inspection and classification.

9

Upon quality acceptance, the charcoal is then transferred to the bagging plant when it is again screened to remove undersized pieces and packaged into bags, palletized and shrink wrapped, ready to be shipped to stores.

10

Charcoal is then purchased and used for lekker braai with family and friends.

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BRIQUETTE MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Average production time is +/- 74 days to produce a bag of briquettes all the way from standing tree to braai.

1

All charcoal accumulated below 7mm in size from the screening process is transferred to the briquetting plant

2

This small sized charcoal is then crushed to ensure a consistency of 2~3mm sizing

3

A tried and proven briquette recipe comprising a ratio 10:1:1 (10 x charcoal : 1x water: 1x maize starch) is used. NO fillers. NO Saw dust. NO sands. NO chemicals.

4

The charcoal,water and maize starch is mixed in a large industrial mixer untilit is a moist clumpy consistency.

5

The mixture is conveyed to a briquetting press where it is compressed into pillow shaped braai briquettes.

6

The briquettes are crated and oven dried for 48 hours until dry.

7

Upon quality acceptance, the briquettes are then transferred to the bagging plant when it is bagged, palletized and shrink wrapped, ready to be shipped to stores.

8

Briquettes are then purchased and used for lekker braai with family and friends.

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BIOCHAR

Biochar is why the amazon rain forest is lush and healthy.

Biochar is excellent for both the environment and perfect for the gardens and agriculture.

Bosveld Biochar has developed products with experts in this field that you can either at home, on the plot, or on a large commercial farm.

Benefits of Biochar

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Uses of Charcoal