Potentials of Biomass Waste Resources with Respect to their Calorific Value, Proximate and Ultimate Analysis for Energy Utilization

Abstract

Abstract The increase in the prices and demand for cooking fuel has necessitated the deployment of an alternative fuel (biomass wastes), which is efficient and relatively inexpensive. Biomass wastes are abundant and underutilized for energy purposes in Nigeria. The conversion of these wastes into briquettes can help to mitigate the over-dependency of wood for cooking and deforestation. In this study, biomass wastes such as rice husks (RH), banana peels (BP), coconut husk (CH), groundnut shell (GS) and saw dust (SD) were collected in various dumpsites in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and sun dried for a week for ease of grinding. Briquettes were produced mechanically from all samples, including a mixture of all the samples (MIX) using the same ratio. Waste paper was used as a binder. Characterization analyses (i.e. calorific value, proximate and ultimate analyses) were conducted using ASTM standards. The results revealed that the MIX briquette has an average calorific value of 26346kJ/kg, 12.35% moisture, 8.99% ash, 0.05% sulphur and 34.7% carbon. Essentially, the findings revealed that the combination of the biomass wastes have a positive effect with respect to the physical and chemical properties of the MIX briquette. This fuel briquette can replace wood for cooking and mitigate deforestation.