Physico-chemical Properties of Biocharcoal Briquettes Blend of Goat Manure Charcoal, Saboak Shell and Lamtoro Twigs

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the effect of blend of goat manure charcoal, saboak shell and lamtoro twigs on the physical and chemical properties of biocharcoal briquettes. The completely randomised design with 4 treatments and 4 replications was applied in this study. Those treatments were, P1 = 25% goat manure charcoal + 75% saboak shell without lamtoro twigs, P2 = 25% goat manure charcoal + 50% saboak shell + 25% lamtoro twigs, P3 = 25% goat manure charcoal + 25% saboak shell + 50% lamtoro twigs and P4 = 25% goat manure charcoal without saboak shell + 75% lamtoro twigs. The variables studied were: yield, density, moisture content, ash content, calorific value, volatile matter and fixed carbon. Data were analysed according to the analysis of variance procedure. The mean values obtained were: 55.20% yield; 0.56 g/cm3 density; 3.41% moisture content; 14.80% ash content; 5195.05 cal/g calorific value; 25.54% volatile matter; 56.25% fixed carbon. Statistical analysis showed the treatment had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on yield, density, moisture content, ash content and fixed carbon, but not significant (P>0.05) on calorific value and volatile matter. It can be concluded that blend of goat manure charcoal, saboak shell and lamtoro twigs with an increasing proportion of lamtoro twig as substitute on saboak shell produces biocharcoal briquettes with good moisture, density and calorific value that has fulfilled the requirements standardised in SNI 01-6235-2000, while other physicochemical properties such as fixed carbon, volatile matter ash content not meet these standards.