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Production and Characterization of Briquette Charcoal by Carbonization of Agro-Waste

Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Waste agricultural biomass (corn cobs) was carbonized in a metal kiln, 90cm in height and 60cm diameter. Four different briquette charcoal grades were produced using locally sourced tapioca starch as binder at concentrations of 6.0, 10.0, 14.0 and 19.0 % w/w. Characterization test was carried out for the charcoal briquettes. The fixed carbon content of the briquette grades is 72.776, 73.958, 78.794, 81.884% w/w respectively. Similarly, the ash content for the briquette grades is 21.38, 20.70, 14.24 and 11.49 % w/w respectively. The bulk density is 425.6, 425.7, 425.0 and 358.3 kg/m 3 respectively and the moisture content is 5.88, 5.34, 6.99 and 6.63 % w/w respectively. The properties of the produced briquette charcoal were compared with that of sugarcane bagasse and wood charcoal. The briquette charcoal was found to be a better fuel when compared to both sugarcane bagasse and wood charcoal, having a highest fixed carbon content and highest bulk density. The corn cobs briquettes have lower moisture content compared to sugarcane bagasse however has higher moisture content than wood charcoal. In addition, the sugarcane bagasse and wood charcoal were found to have lower ash content (4.33 % and 9.80% respectively) compared to all the five charcoal grades produced. The briquette charcoal has a mean calorific value of 32.4 MJ/kg which is significantly higher than that of both bagasse at 23.4 MJ/kg and wood charcoal at 8.27MJ/kg.
Authors: Abdu Zubairu, Sadiq Abba Gana
Language: English
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W29426544
FWCI: 0.692
Cites: 5
Cited by: 57
Related to: 10