Experimental Investigations on Fuel Briquettes Produced from Agricultural and Industrial Waste

The biomass obtained from the agricultural sector can be used as a source of Biomass renewable energy. The potential of a few types of agricultural and industrial waste such as rice husk, sawdust, waste paper, sugar cane waste, oil palm shell, oil palm fiber, oil palm fronds and mixture of materials were studied. These biomasses were converted into a compressed form of briquette through a simple briquetting process, by drying the raw materials, grinding them into powder and pressing them into compressed form. The properties of the briquettes were studied and compared through experimental tests. The experiments conducted on the briquettes were proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, calorific value test, stability test, immerse test, crack analysis and durability test. The results from the experiments showed that no single briquette made of a single material had the best combustion and mechanical properties as a fuel. The mixed materials briquettes had shown better properties compared to the single material briquettes, and therefore, they are recommended for use as solid fuel materials.