Evaluating Coal–Jatropha curcas Composite Briquettes as Sustainable Fuel Alternatives

IF 4.3 3区工程技术 Q2 ENERGY & FUELS

International Journal of Energy Research Pub Date : 2025-03-29 DOI:10.1155/er/8847392

Amad Ullah Khan, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Abas, Zakir Ullah, Khan Muhammad, Farida Anjum, Aamer Sharif, Melkamu Tadesse Getachew

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Abstract

Coal is a major fuel source but raises environmental concerns. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing a composite briquette sustainable fuel produced from subbituminous coal and Jatropha curcas biomass. Briquettes were prepared with varying weight ratios of coal to J. curcas biomass (90:0–0:90) using corn starch as a binder. The influence of this ratio on the briquettes’ properties was comprehensively evaluated through proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The results revealed that increasing the J. curcas content in the briquettes gradually decreased the moisture content, ash content, and fixed carbon content while increasing the volatile matter content. The elemental composition analysis showed a decreasing trend in carbon and sulfur content with increasing J. curcas, while nitrogen and oxygen content increased. The gross calorific value (GCV) exhibited a significant positive correlation with the coal content, reaching a maximum value of 28.29 MJ/kg for briquettes specially composed of J. curcas biomass. These findings suggest that coal–J. curcas briquettes offer a promising alternative fuel source with tailorable properties depending on the desired balance between burning characteristics and calorific value. Further research could explore the combustion behavior and emission profiles of these briquettes to assess their environmental impact.

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煤炭是一种主要燃料来源，但却引发了环境问题。本研究调查了利用亚烟煤和麻风树生物质制成的复合煤砖作为可持续燃料的可行性。使用玉米淀粉作为粘合剂，以不同的煤与麻风树生物质重量比（90:0-0:90）制备煤砖。通过近似分析、终极分析、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和 X 射线荧光（XRF）分析，全面评估了该比例对煤球特性的影响。结果表明，增加压块中的胡芦巴含量会逐渐降低水分含量、灰分含量和固定碳含量，同时增加挥发物含量。元素组成分析表明，随着胡芦巴含量的增加，碳和硫含量呈下降趋势，而氮和氧含量则有所增加。总热值（GCV）与煤的含量呈显著的正相关，特别是由胡杨生物质组成的煤球，其总热值达到了 28.29 兆焦/千克。这些研究结果表明，煤-醋栗压块燃料是一种很有前途的替代燃料，其特性可根据燃烧特性和热值之间的理想平衡进行调整。进一步的研究可以探索这些煤砖的燃烧行为和排放情况，以评估其对环境的影响。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Energy Research 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

9.80

自引率

8.70%

发文量

1170

审稿时长

3.1 months

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Energy Research (IJER) is dedicated to providing a multidisciplinary, unique platform for researchers, scientists, engineers, technology developers, planners, and policy makers to present their research results and findings in a compelling manner on novel energy systems and applications. IJER covers the entire spectrum of energy from production to conversion, conservation, management, systems, technologies, etc. We encourage papers submissions aiming at better efficiency, cost improvements, more effective resource use, improved design and analysis, reduced environmental impact, and hence leading to better sustainability. IJER is concerned with the development and exploitation of both advanced traditional and new energy sources, systems, technologies and applications. Interdisciplinary subjects in the area of novel energy systems and applications are also encouraged. High-quality research papers are solicited in, but are not limited to, the following areas with innovative and novel contents: -Biofuels and alternatives -Carbon capturing and storage technologies -Clean coal technologies -Energy conversion, conservation and management -Energy storage -Energy systems -Hybrid/combined/integrated energy systems for multi-generation -Hydrogen energy and fuel cells -Hydrogen production technologies -Micro- and nano-energy systems and technologies -Nuclear energy -Renewable energies (e.g. geothermal, solar, wind, hydro, tidal, wave, biomass) -Smart energy system