INVESTIGATION INTO THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CROP SHELLS

Abstract This Project addresses the issues in our immediate environment and the society at large. Mechanical Engineering is a discipline in which one of its major aims is to solve problems. The issue of agricultural residue or waste is something that is not far￾fetched at all. This project work involved us in selecting some crop shells that constitute nuisance to our environment and potentially contaminate the soil when not properly processed. These shells that are deemed useless contain treasures if properly examined which we did and got awesome results. The so-called useless waste is actually useful when we concluded our research. After getting these shells from various locations, we subjected it to grounding to powder in order for it to be tested appropriately and correctly in the materials and chemical engineering laboratory. We analyzed results received and discovered the true values of these shells. These supposed waste can actually solve our energy problems and bring about economic growth to our nation. Two of the three selected shells are so good for energy generation while the other can be used as fertilizers in agriculture to improve growth of plants. This study assessed the moisture content, ash content, bulk density, proximate lipid composition as well as thermal behaviour using thermogravimetric analyzer at heating rates 10 °C/min) under nitrogen atmosphere . Statistical tools were used to assess similarities among crops under investigation after which tables with mean values and standard deviation were drawn up to facilitate comparisons.