Production, Analysis and Optimization of Low Cost Briquettes from Biomass Residues

Biomass is the alternative source for generation of energy for the masses. Biomass residues from our common surroundings and other fields mainly agriculture are produced in abundance in continuation. Such a large quantity needs to be managed in order to refrain from solid waste pollution, as if left unused such residues are usually burnt inefficiently. In this context, biomass briquetting present an energy efficient solution by managing such solid waste. Biomass briquettes can be the excellent source of energy for households as well as for commercial sites and is ideal for replacing continuously depleting fossil fuels. This study is based on production of such briquettes using dry leaves, rice husk and straw, analysis of physical and chemical parameters of such briquettes. This study concluded that briquettes produced from groundnut shells bonded by paper pulp has highest calorific value of 5407 Kcal/kg, which is quite higher than commercially available cow dung briquettes (3452.34 kCal/kg). Physical parameters like Total Solids (%), Volatile Solids (%), Ash (%), and sulfur (%) were determined by standard methods of AOAC and were similar in briquettes made by groundnut shells and paper pulp. To lower the cost of production, a simple screw press machine was designed and developed to produce briquettes at low cost. A simpler chullah was also designed for burning of the groundnut shell briquettes produced using paper pulp as a binder, where lowest ignition time of 12 second was obtained for the groundnut shell briquette made by paper pulp. Burning time for this briquette was 4 minutes and 50 seconds. This technology can be used to popularize the use of biomass briquettes to replace the commercially available cow dung briquettes.