CONSTRUCTION OF A MOULDER AND FABRICATION OF BRIQUETTE FROM BIOMASS MATERIALS (PAPER, CORNSTALK AND BAGASSE) FOR USE IN CLEAN STOVES
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Date
2016-09-09
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Bayero University Kano
Abstract
This research work was carried out to produce briquette from biomass materials (paper,
cornstalk and bagasse) as an alternative to wood charcoal using a designed and fabricated
hand-press briquette moulder capable of producing five briquettes at a time. Six different
mixtures of briquette (100%Paper, 100%Cornstalk, 100%Bagasse, 50%Paper + 50%Cornstalk,
50%Paper + 50%Bagasse and 50%Cornstalk + 50% Bagasse) were produced using Tapioca
starch as a binder. After briquetting, the physical properties of the produced briquettes were
determined by direct measurements and calculations, the proximate analysis were performed in
accordance with ASTM analytical method and the average results show that; the percentage
volatile matter of the dried briquettes was found in the range of 80.05%–92.01%, ash content in
the range 5.32%–19.32% and fixed carbon in the range of 0.34%–5.25%. The average
maximum and relaxed densities of the briquettes ranged from 578.85kg/m–1011.48kg/m and
213.64kg/m–315.57kg/m respectively. With the aid of Cussons-Bomb calorimeter the
calorific value of the produced briquettes varies from 12045.45J/g–17009.22J/g with the
maximum value observed for sample 3. The average results for the relaxation and density
ratios of the produced briquette were 2.68–3.71 and 0.27–0.37 respectively. Results from
different tests show that the briquettes made from sample 3(100%Bagasse) were the best
quality fuels among their counter-parts.