TITLE: 

LOCAL PRODUCTION OF BIOFLAKS IN THE GAMBIA.

 

Introduction: 

Trees absorb and are a good store for carbon dioxide. Therefore, if forests are cleared, or even disturbed, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10 to 15% of global warming.

The need for energy by man and other organisms contribute to the disturbance of the forest and other vegetations in the planet. As the need for energy or fuel would always be a continuous deman on man, therefore we have to find a more safer, sustainable and economically means of energy production thus green jobs, products and solutions shall be introduced. 

Charcoal is one of the major sources of fuel in The Gambia which has been and continue to contribute to deforestation. To discourage and replace this threat to our forests initiated the idea of local production of bioflaks.

Local production of bioflakes is a green initiative that is inline with the SDG Goals and specifically the SGD goal Affordable and clean energy. A bioflak is a composite of organic products especially kitchen waste combined with other substances eg to produce an environmentally, sustainable and clean source of fuel for cooking and other uses. In a similar way, addressing deforestation, global warming,floods and other climate induced vulnerabilities.

A balanced Chemical Equation Showing Combustion in Bioflakes

2C+O2=CO2 + heat.

[Organic Waste mainly carbon) reacting with enough Oxygen to produce Carbon dioxide and heat use as fuel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Goals: 

The project goals are:

1. To contribute to the achievement of the SGD goal,Clean and Affordable Energy.

2. Creation of green jobs

3. Creation of green products for the use of fuel

4. Discouraging and addressing deforestation

5. Contributing to a more habitable environment, planet

6. Reduced global warming

7. Improvement of the biodiversity and ecosystem

8. Improved lividhoods and lives etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Description

The project is a 12 months project initiated by a team of young chemist who are passionate about the environment and its preservation for a better and improved planet life experience.

This project was initiated since 2016 during our college education study period. 

Our staff is designated into different components of our work and expectations base on each individual experience and commitment.

We have generally 5 teams of which there is a team lead for each group.

The first group includes the:

Grouo 1:Researchers

Group 2. Organic waste collectors

Group 3. Producers

Group 4. Packing team

Group 5. Marketing team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used

The materials needed for a sustainable and cheap production of bioflake is one of the reasons why we should prioritise it over other sources of fuels. The materials can be locally made, operated manually without much technical know-how with little or no environmental threat.

The materials include:

1. Manually constructed organic waste grinder

2. Waste collection tools eg tricycles

3. Mixer

4. Manually built moulder machine for making the flasks.

5. Dryer

6. Organic packaging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Success criteria outcomes

The need to protect our planet cannot be overemphasized however this cannot be achieved without the implementation of sustainable green products especially organic fuels. The SGD goal on Clean and Affordable Energy is important for how it gives a technical and vision to how we can achieve a more habitable planet this what has to be done, avoided, improved, changed and innovated to achieve a more friendly environment. Therefore , the introduction of bioflakes is a key contributor to the achievement of such important sustainable development goal. 

Some of the benefits include but not limited to:

1. Preservation and restoration of the forest cover thus more availablity for trees to absorb and store all the excess carbon dioxide in the planet. 

2. Reduction in global warming in the planet

3. Preservation and sustainability of our biodiversity

4. Optimal rain falls

5. Green jobs

6. A safer and more habitable planet

How we measure success: With the introduction of bioflakes as fuel in The Gambia there will be a significant decrease in the cutting down of treas for the production of Charcoal,thus discouraging and or addressing deforestation.

Forest cover in the county's forest regions will have a more habitable and friendly environment as there will be improved minimal rainfall, agricultural activities shall be increased and improved.

Waste management threats shall be limited if not avoided due to the huge organic waste recycling into bioflaks.

There will be a significant improved in air quality in major city markets

There will be availablity of more jobs for youth as green jobs create more jobs

There will be a significant increase in lives and lividhoods

Finally,the amount of warm, humidity experience by people shall be minimal by how stress levels among people shall reduced

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results/ Findings:

About 10 to 15 percent of global warming is as a result of deforestation therefore any reduction in deforestation would yield a significant impact on the habitability of our planet.

Effects of deforestation:

1. Increase in greenhouse gas emissions

2. Reduced biodiversity

3. Distribution of the Water cycle

4. Impact on lividhoods

5. Increased in soil erosion.

 

Graphical representation showing a global warming with high deforestation compare to when green ideas in the harness for affordable and clean energy is introduced, promoted and enforced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgments:

This project is dedicated to my team of young professionals in chemistry who invest and continue to invest all their expertise, effort and time in the realisation of this project. I must commend special the Chemical Society of The Gambia for their tremendous and effective support rendered during the process of this poster presentation design, project initiation and progress.

Special thanks to myself for the confidence and time invested in making this idea of contributing to towards the SDG goal clean and affordable energy a reality. I cannot forget to acknowledge the efforts of Mr Pa Modou Njie for his outstanding support in the preparation of this poster. Finally, special thanks to Mr.Ozo Promise,my chemistry lecturer who initiated this idea to me and my team. We thank you for your unflinching support and leadership in equipping us with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the world of chemistry and in particular the design and initiation of this brilliant project, Local Production of Bioflakes in The Gambia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference:

1. @c 2023 World Wild Life Fund WWF.® and ©1986

Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. All rights reserved.

2. Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2021) - "Forests and Deforestation". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/forests-and-deforestation' [Online Resource]

3. @article{owidforestsanddeforestation,

    author = {Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser},

    title = {Forests and Deforestation},

    journal = {Our World in Data},

    year = {2021},

    note = {https://ourworldindata.org/forests-and-deforestation}

 

Contact Information:

Bakary konateh: 5903952

Sainy Cham: 317 9587

Mariama Sanneh: 783 4991

Mr. Dele: 3650096