Assessment of Combustion Properties of Briquettes Produced from Three Different Biomasses Sourced from Tarkwa, Ghana

Abstract

Climate change and population growth has necessitated the need for sustainable fuel/energy sources. This study aimed to produce alternative fuel sources from waste biomasses (coconut husk, wood sawdust and waste charcoal residue). Particularly, the influence of agro-waste type on resulting briquette combustion properties (volatile matter, calorific value, fixed carbon and ash content) was examined. Charring was achieved using local reactor whilst cassava starch was used as a binder. Briquettes of sizes ranging between ~ 40 - 60 mm with varying residual moisture contents (8 – 12%) were produced. For thermal characteristics, the results showed that the briquettes from coconut husk yielded highest volatile matter content (36%) followed by fine charcoal particles’ (33%) and sawdust briquettes (3%). The Ash contents for the briquettes from coconut husk, charcoal and sawdust were 2%, 21% and 31%, respectively. For the fixed carbon contents, briquettes from coconut husk had 34% whilst charcoal and sawdust ones had 46% and 96%, respectively. The calorific values of the briquettes from coconut husk, charcoal and sawdust were 3531, 4047 and 5085 kcal/kg, respectively. Generally, the results showed that briquettes produced from sawdust had superior combustion characteristics than those from coconut husk and charcoal. Overall, the work has demonstrated the possibility of producing quality briquettes which could serve as alternative sustainable fuel/energy for various households who are dependent on unstainable fuels such as charcoal produced from trees. Moreover, the outcome can also serve as a key alternative method for managing abundant agro-waste in various communities, especially in the developing countries.