Rice husk charcoal is formed by the incomplete combustion of rice husk at temperatures below its ignition temperature. Rice husk is the outermost part of the rice seed, a hard, waste material from rice milling. Therefore, the raw materials for producing rice husk charcoal are abundant and low-cost. Moreover, rice husk charcoal can be widely used in industry, agriculture, and other fields, making its production a profitable business.
Two methods for producing rice husk charcoal
There are two ways to make charcoal from rice husk: Method 1 is to carbonize rice husk in a carbonization furnace directly. Method 2 is to first compress rice husk into briquettes using a rice husk briquette machine, then carbonize the rice husk briquettes into charcoal. Here, we will introduce these two rice husk charcoal-making processes separately.
Method 1: Carbonize rice husk to charcoal directly
The lowest cost method is to make simple carbonization by smoldering rice husks to produce charcoal.
The video below can help you know better about it.
Another way is to make the rice husk charcoal using a carbonizing machine.
Compared with the traditional way to make charcoal, the carbonization machine has the advantages of less labor intensity, shorter carbonizing time, smokeless, and higher charcoal yield.
We have different types of carbonization furnaces.
Theoretically, all three types of carbonization furnaces can carbonize rice husks into charcoal. However, in actual production, we need to consider the input-output ratio. Naturally piled rice husks are very fluffy, so a carbonization furnace of the same volume can hold far fewer rice husks than it could hold wood. For example, an 8-cubic-meter carbonization furnace can hold at least 4 tons of wood, yielding at least 1 ton of charcoal. With rice husks, it can only hold about 1 ton, producing approximately 200 kilograms of rice husk charcoal. If a vertical or horizontal carbonization furnace is used, the furnace volume is fixed (commonly 2-12m³), and the yield of rice husk charcoal will be very low. Such a production ratio is not cost-effective, so these two types of carbonization furnaces are not recommended. They are suitable for carbonizing rice husk briquettes into charcoal (suitable for the second method of rice husk charcoal production).
If you want to produce rice husk charcoal on a large scale and have a sufficient budget, we recommend a continuous carbonization furnace.
Uses of rice husk charcoal
Rice husk charcoal is mainly used in agriculture and horticulture.
Soil Conditioner: Rice husk charcoal has a rich microporous structure, significantly improving soil aeration and drainage, preventing soil compaction, and is especially suitable for loosening heavy clay soils.
Natural Organic Fertilizer: Rich in essential plant nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, especially potassium oxide (8%-12%). Its slow nutrient release provides a sustainable supply for plant growth.
Regulating Soil pH: Rice husk charcoal is alkaline (pH above 7), effectively neutralizing acidic soils and improving the soil environment.
Antimicrobial and Disease Control: It adsorbs pathogenic microorganisms in the soil, inhibiting soil-borne diseases such as root rot, black stem rot, and grain blight.
Heat and Moisture Retention: In winter, mixing it into the soil reduces heat loss and protects roots from frost damage; in summer, it helps retain moisture and slows evaporation.
Can the carbonized rice hull be used to make briquettes?
Yes, the rice husk charcoal can be used to make charcoal briquettes. Because rice husk charcoal is small in size, it does not need to be crushed. It can be directly mixed with binder and water in a roller mixer and then made into charcoal briquettes using a charcoal briquette machine.
Please click the link below for details of the charcoal briquette machine
Method 2: make rice husk briquettes first
As mentioned earlier, rice husks are very loose. If they are carbonized directly like wood, the amount of rice husk char produced in the same carbonization furnace will be much less. Therefore, we can try a different approach: first, press the loose rice husks into high-density rice hull briquettes, and then carbonize them.
Rice husk is rich in cellulose and lignin, so it can be made into briquettes by a rice husk briquette machine. Because rice husk is small, it does not need to be crushed. Therefore, the process of making charcoal from rice husks is the same as that of making charcoal from sawdust.
The following is a detailed article on charcoal production from sawdust; the whole process is also applicable to rice husks(Drying-Briquetting-Carbonizing).
