Burning characteristics of briquette produced from sawdust of Ficus exasperata and cassava peel using different binders

Abstract

Energy used for domestic application is expensive and utilization of an alternative energy has become imperative. The study evaluated the combustion properties of briquettes produced from sawdust particles of Ficus exasperata and Cassava peel using different binders. Sawdust was mixed with the binders at a ratio (60 : 40) top bond, (40 : 60) starch and (60 : 40) cow dung, while the cassava peel mixed with the binders at a ratio (40:60) top bond, (60 : 40) starch and (40 : 60) cattle dung. This is followed by admixture of sawdust and cassava peel with the binders at ratio (25 : 25 : 50) top bond, (25 : 25 : 50) sawdust and (25 : 25 : 50) cattle dung, and substrate mixed with binders at ratio (20 : 20 : 20 : 20 : 20) respectively. Data analysis was carried out using a two-way analysis of variance. The proximate composition result reveals that the percentage ash content was significant at p<0.05. Results on binders revealed that heating value (HV) was highest at starch (32.48Mj/kg) and lowest in cattle dung (30.9Mj/kg) while result on substrate reveals highest HV at sawdust (32.79Mj/kg) and lowest in cassava peel (30.39) with significant higher % ash content (9.5). Therefore, this study reveals that briquette of admixture of sawdust and cassava peel bonded with starch had the best burning characteristics and could be maximized as alternative source to energy.