Fabrication and Characterization of Charcoal Briquettes Fuel from a Blend of Coconut Husk and Corncob

Abstract

Energy is very essential to human livelihood and makes significant help to economic, social, and environmental features of human development. Biomass is certainly a very significant source of renewable energy worldwide and abundant with high energy potential. This research aimed to characterize and produce briquette fuel from the combination of coconut husk and corncob using starch as a binder. The composite briquettes were produced by varying the mixture ratio of coconut husk to corncob (CH: CC), 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 using starch as a binding agent. The physical and combustion characteristics were analyzed according to the America Society of Testing of Materials Standard. It was observed that the moisture content decreased from 5.02% to 4.88%, fixed carbon increased from 74.20% to 75.13%, volatile matter increased from 20.20% to 21.70%, Ash content decreased from 5.60% to 3.17% and the calorific value increased from 20.35 MJ/kg to 26.75 MJ/kg. The findings also show that the maximum density and durability indexes were 839 kg/m3 and 98.58%. The briquette at the ratio 20:80 of coconut husk to corncob has the highest calorific value and implies that it has more heating advantages and will therefore be suitable as an alternative solid fuel.