Utilization of Waste from Biomass for Fuel Briquettes Production

Abstract

A cube compression of biowaste supports the disposal of biomass residues and enhancement of combustion efficiency and fuel storage. This research investigated the utilization of waste from biowastes for fuel briquettes production. It was to study the chemical and physical properties of fuel briquettes from biowastes, the optimal ratios of biomass, and the efficiency of fuel briquettes from biowastes compared with the standard of Thai community product standard (TCPs) 238/2547. Biowastes materials used to produce fuel briquettes are sewage sludge, agricultural wastes mixed with cassava starch sediment as a binder at the ratios of 0.35:0.40:0.25 and 0.65:0.15:0.20 kg:kg:kg, respectively. They were compressed by a cold-pressed process. Then, they were studied the chemical properties of heating values, moisture content, ash content, and physical properties of density, drop shatter test, including the examination of well-forming briquettes. Results showed that the ratio of sewage sludge, coconut shell, and cassava starch sediment at 0.35:0.40:0.25 was an effective fuel briquette with the chemical properties of heating value at 5,158.09 cal/g (21,586 KJ/Kg), moisture and ash content of 4%, 8.17% w/w, respectively, the physical properties of density of 0.91 g/cm³, and drop shatter of 0.95. Moreover, the results of fuel briquettes during combustion showed an ignition distance of 35 minutes, a smoke duration of 47 minutes, and a lower quantity that is according to the TCPs 238/2547. Hence, this research study can be applied as a guideline for biowastes utilization in the production of fuel briquettes for using alternative energy sources in the community.