Determining the Energy Value on Different Compressions of Sawdust Briquettes

Abstract

Biomass and other industrial wastes is on the increase and causes a lot of problem especially the effect on our environment. In developing countries like Nigeria, there are inadequate measures of disposing these wastes, hence, converting them to other useful products such as briquettes for domestic fuel is desirable. In this research work, the energy values of briquettes made from sawdust using two binders were assessed. The sawdust briquettes of different compressions was produced using sawdust of different grain sizes (fine and coarse) and two different types of binders (clay and starch) in percentage compositions of 75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10 and 95:05, respectively. The briquettes were subjected to energy evaluation test using the Bomb Calorimeter. The results indicated that the higher the compression, the more the energy value for both samples. Therefore sawdust briquette of higher compression is more suitable for starting and maintaining fire for cooking and other domestic heating.