Preparation and Characterization of Biomass Briquettes Produced from Coconut Shell and Corncobs

Marcus N. Sabo, *Mohammed M. Aji, A. L. Yaumi and Bintu G. Mustafa

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069 Maiduguri, Borno State

*Corresponding Author: moduajim@unimaid.edu.ng


ABSTRACT

In this work, coconut shells and corncobs were effectively utilized to produce briquettes. The combustion performances of both briquettes with different binders were investigated as fuel. The briquettes were characterized and a water boiling test was carried out. The study revealed that corncob briquettes took a longer time to boil the same quantity of water compared to coconut shell briquettes. Coconut shell briquette produces more quantity of heat than the corncobs briquette. In addition, corncobs briquettes have a higher percentage of ash content than coconut shell briquettes. The volatile matter of Corncobs is 19.30% and 13.33% with starch and Gum Arabic respectively, while for coconut shell is 16.49% and 7.74% with starch and Gum Arabic. Corncobs briquettes have a higher moisture content of 24.24% and coconut shell briquettes has 14.02% whereas the briquettes produced from coconut shell with Gum Arabic has a higher colorific value of 24.04 Kcal/kg. The resistance to water penetration of each of the samples shows that briquettes made with coconut shells have more water penetration resistance with both binders than corncobs briquettes. The higher calorific value of 24.04 Kcal/kg of coconut shell with Gum Arabic implies that the energy in coconut shell particles was greater when compared to corncobs. Hence, it is more preferable to use coconut shell briquettes as solid fuel than corncobs briquettes due to the lower rate of combustion compared to corncobs briquettes.

Keyword: Briquette, Binder, Combustion, Calorific value, Fuel, Biomass