Optimum proportion of starch binder and palm kernel shell hybrid additive in the formation of sawdust based composite briquette

Abstract

Briquette making involves collection of combustible materials not useable because of their low density and compressing them into solid fuel of convenient shape. Briquette has lower ash content, high heat and calorific value than most fuels. Thus, this study investigated 200g of pure sawdust and five other briquettes of percentage by mass ratios of sawdust to palm kernel shell of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50, were made dry and without binder. The briquettes were tested for crushing strength and calorific value. The best of the briquettes which is 70:30 percentages was picked and its composition was used to make another set of five briquettes but with starch of masses 10g, 20g, 30g, 40g and 50g respectively.  The briquettes with starch content were tested for calorific value only.  Consequently, the data obtained from the results showed that addition of palm kernel shell increases the calorific value from 15,668KJ/kg when there was no palm kernel shell addition to 18,397kJ/kg at palm kernel shell addition up to 30% beyond which the calorific value decreases. However, addition of starch binder to the briquette raised the calorific value to 20,377kJ/kg when the starch addition was up to 4.8% beyond which the calorific value decreases. Result shows that 4.8% of starch addition was insufficient for the composite briquette. However, 13% of starch binder briquette a calorific value of 20,005kJ/kg is considered the best. 13% of starch binder briquette could be developed for usage in boiler, heating purpose and gasification plants to replace conventional fuel sources.