Mechanical Handling Characteristics of Briquettes Produced from Water Hyacinth and Plantain Peel as Binder

Abstract

Aims: The effect of process variable on shattering index and compressive strength characteristics of the water hyacinth briquettes were evaluated. Study Design: The experimental design for this study was 5 x 3 x 4 Randomized Complete Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: The samples were collected from Port- Harcourt, Niger Delta and are located between latitudes 4º 2" and 6º 2" North of the equator and longitudes 5º1" and 7º 2" East of the Greenwich meridian, between Jan 2009 and March 2010. The laboratory work was conducted in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Methodology: The experimental design for this study was 5 x 3 x 4 Randomized Complete Block Design. This study involved three particle sizes of dried and ground water hyacinth ( D1, D2, D3) at levels 0.5, 1.6 and 4mm, pressure (P1, P2, P3, P4 ) at level 3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 9.0MPa with plantain peels were used as binder ( B1, B2- B3, B4, B5 ) in the ratio of 10, 20, 30 40 and 50% by weight of residue. They were arranged in Randomize Complete Block Design with three replications per experiment. Results: The shattering index and compressive strength of the briquettes produced from this densification variables competed favourably with charcoal. The mean shattering index ranged between 0.62±0.02 (B1) to 0.96±0.01 (B5) and variation of the values were significant (P<.001). The compressive strength of the briquettes ranged between 0.84±0.05 Nmm-2 (B1) and 2.66±0.05Nmm-2 (B5) at different binder proportions. It could be inferred that the amount of binder used have significant influence on the durability rating of the briquettes (P<.05). Conclusion: The observation showed that briquettes produced from water hyacinth are durable, reliable and able to stand mechanical handling and as well transportation.