PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BRIQUETTES FROM RICE HUSK – SAW DUST MIXTURES AND ITS ENERGY POTENTIAL IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY MATRIX.

The energy potentials of briquettes produced from a mixture of rice husk and saw dust have been investigated from the physic-chemical properties under strict laboratory analysis. The parameters indicated that briquettes from rice husk and saw dust using cassava starch as binders, are reddish brown while briquettes from rice husk and saw dust with gum Arabic are dark brown in colours. Furthermore, the moisture content of briquettes from rice husk and cassava starch is lower compared to that from saw dust and cassava starch (Table 1 and 2). Under intense pressure, briquettes from rice husk and cassava starch burn at 40oC in 3minutes, while rice husk with gum Arabic burn at 54oC in 3minutes. At the ratio of 50 – 50, briquettes with gum Arabic as binders is the best in calorific values at 0.694g/sec (Table 5). Saw dust has high thermal efficiency than rice husk while starch is more combustible than gum arabic. Equations 1 and 2 are determinants in the weight measurement processes and the ratio of materials for the right proportion of rice husk and saw dust with the different binders at different times. The moisture contents and burning rates of these briquettes are fundamental to the determinations of the energy potentials as alternative renewable energy source in Nigeria, equation 2. Briquettes produced from rice husk and saw dust is compatible with fuel needs in the rural areas and makes good biomass fuel as alternative energy sources if properly harness for both domestic and industrial use. This paper therefore, is useful for policy decisions on renewable energy industrialization, energy diversification and agro-economics for environmental preservation in Nigeria. Keywords: Briquettes, Renewable Energy, Saw dust, Rice Husk, Gum Arabic. African Journal of Engineering and Environment Research Vol.3(2) 2022 ©2022 CEFPACS Consulting Limited. www. cefpacsconsultingltd.org.ng ISSN: 2635-2974