Environmental impact of bio-briquettes produced from agricultural residues concerning to CO2 emissions

Abstract

This study examined the flue gas emissions of bio-briquettes produced from agricultural residues. Methods and Results: The briquettes were produced from residues of tea (Camellia sinensis) processing plants, pruning residues of persimmon (Diospyros kaki), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) stalk and pruning residues of peach (Prunus persica) tree. The residues were briquetted using a hydraulic briquetting machine with a horizontal course. Solid cylindrical briquettes were produced under different compression pressures ranging from 40 MPa to 240 MPa, with a moisture content of 10%-12% and having a particle size of 5 mm. Flue gas emissions of biobriquettes were measured. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that CO2 emissions increased with increase in the briquetting pressures. The lowest CO2 emission was (2.50%) obtained at 120 MPa pressure for the briquettes produced from tomato stalk residues, where the highest was (8.90%) at 240 MPa for the briquettes produced from peach tree pruning. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study deals with the CO2 emission of biomass resulted from residues/wastes from the intensive farming of tea (Camellia sinensis), persimmon (Diospyros kaki), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and peach (Prunus persica).