PRODUCTION OF FUEL BRIQUETTES USING AGRO WASTE (AFRICAN STAR APPLE AND FLAMBOYANT SEED)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study is on the production of fuel briquettes using agro waste (African star apple back, African star apple seed and flamboyant seed). The agro-wastes were processed and characterized in terms of proximate analysis and functional groups evaluation using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. There were separately and in combined forms used to produce fuel briquettes. Each produced briquette was characterized to check their suitability for heating/combustion processes. Analyses of the experimental results show that the moisture content of the African star apple back, African star apple seed and flamboyant seed are 8.04%, 8.57% and 8.11% respectively. Each of these values is lower than the moisture content of the biomass material for solid biofuel. The volatile contents of the three analyzed agro-wastes ranged from 27.64 - 33.72%. Recorded fixed carbon values of African star apple back, African star apple seed and flamboyant seed are 55.27%, 59.81% and 53.34% respectively. and energy. Fixed carbon of the samples are relatively high resulting in high calorific value indicating that the agro-wastes have good thermal or combustion properties. African star apple back, African star apple seed and flamboyant seed have the following functional groups ring =C-O-C symmetric and asymmetric stretch, C=C stretch, O-H stretch, CH, C=C stretch, C=O stretch. The agro-materials (agro-wastes) are rich in oxygen, hydrogen and carbon content. These elements are vital components for combustion processes. As such, African star apple back, African star apple seed and flamboyant seed are suitable precursors for production of briquette. On a single basis, the order of energy value of the briquette is African star apple seed
> African star apple back > flamboyant seed. Considering the composite briquettes, the energy value of the African star apple seed / flamboyant seed (1852.13 kJ/100g) is greater than that of African star apple back / flamboyant (1840.48 kJ/100g). Thermal fuel efficiencies of African star apple back, African star apple seed and flamboyant seed are 19.54 %, 19.86% and 18.62% respectively. The thermal fuel efficiencies of African star apple back / flamboyant seed and African star apple seed / flamboyant seed are 20.14% and 20.43% respectively. The combine effort of two biomasses gave better energy value, durability and thermal efficiency.
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