Physical and combustion properties of briquettes from sawdust of Azadirachta indica

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the properties of cassava starch and gum arabic bonded briquettes from the sawdust of Azadirachta indica. The briquettes were produced using a Jack press at an average pressure of 10.7 kg·cm⁻². The sawdust and binders were mixed at ratios of 100:15, 100:25, 100:35 and 100:45 in weight, respectively. The briquettes produced were subjected to physical and combustion tests. Both the physical and combustion properties of the briquettes vary with binder types and binder levels (p < 0.05). The result shows that briquettes bonded with starch gave better performance based on density of 0.546 g·cm⁻³, durability rating of 95.93%, heating value of 33.09 MJ·kg⁻¹, percentage of fixed carbon of 84.70% and low ash and volatile matter of 3.35% and 11.95%, respectively, while briquette bonded with gum arabic has density of 0.425 g·cm⁻³, durability rating of 94.85%, heating value of 32.76 MJ·kg⁻¹, percentage of fixed carbon of 87.30% and low ash and volatile matter of 4.45% and 8.75, respectively. Since the aim of briquetting is to produce briquette that will serve as a good source of fuel and support combustion, the best briquette was produced when the sawdust-starch ratio and sawdust-gum arabic ratio was 100:25 and 100:35, respectively.

Keywords

Azadirachta indica / briquette / binder level / durability rating / combustion properties

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