Promoting industrial symbiosis and circularisation by optimising waste-based briquette shelf life

Abstract

The fusion of the circular economy and industrial symbiosis has several advantages from an economic and developmental standpoint. Cooking energy security issues in Africa can partly be solved by the utilization of waste resources in energy technology decisions such as briquette. However, one of the limitations associated with waste-based briquettes has been identified as a reduction in efficiency when stored for a long period of time under varied storage conditions. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of storage time and exposure on the calorific value and mechanical characteristics of a waste-based composite briquette made from oil palm shell and decanter cake after 180 days of storage. The calorific value decreased by 12.99% and 31.40%, respectively, for sealed packaged storage and open-air storage. On the 180th day of the experiment, the packaged storage and the open-air storage registered 1000.48 kg/m3 and 870 kg/m3, 72.34% and 100%, 712% and 895%, and 118% and 143% for relaxed densities, shatter indices, resistance to impact, and hygroscopic properties respectively. Manufacturers within West Africa can adopt the findings in this study as a guide for their processes.