FABRICATION, OPTIMIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF CASSAVA LOCAL VARIETY (Ighu) and Colocasia esculenta (COCOYAM) PEEL COMPOSITE BIO-SOLID FUELS

The quest for briquette manufacture is increasing due to demand for a cheap and sustainable solid fuel. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of biomass residues of peels of cassava local variety (Ighu) and Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam) on the properties of coal briquettes by blending the agricultural waste with coal. In preparation of briquettes, the ratio of coal to agricultural wastes used were 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, 0:100. The moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, calorific values of the raw materials were analyzed. The proximate, mechanical and combustion properties of the coal and bio-coal briquettes produced such as compressive strength, ignition time, moisture content, durability were also analyzed using standard methods. Comparison of the briquettes showed that the ignition time, durability, porosity index and compressive strength of the coal briquettes were enhanced by the biomass residues. The values obtained for the produced briquettes were comparable to those previously reported in literature. The optimum coal : biomass load was 60 : 40. The obtained results showed that the bio-coal briquette produced in this study were environmentally friendly and useful in real applications.