Relationship between Physico-Mechanical Properties, Compacting Pressure and Mixing Proportion of Briquettes Produced from Maize Cobs and Sawdust

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between selected physico-mechanical properties, compacting pressure and mixing proportion of briquettes produced from combination of maize cob particles and sawdust of low, medium and high density timber species. Particle sizes of maize cobs and sawdust used for the study were ≤1 mm. The two materials were combined at mixing percentages of 90:10, 70:30 and 50:50 (Sawdust:maize cobs). Briquettes were produced at room temperature (28°C) using compacting pressures 20, 30, 40 and 50 MPa. The results suggested that combining maize cob particles with sawdust of low, medium and high density wood species could significantly enhance the relaxed density, compressive strength in cleft and impact resistance index of briquettes produced from agricultural biomass residue like maize cobs. The results further indicated that the physical and mechanical characteristics of briquettes produced from combinations of sawdust of low density species and maize cobs were exceptionally higher than that produced from combinations of maize cob particles, and medium density and high density timber species. The R2 values for the regression model between the independent variables (mixing percentage and compacting pressure) and relaxed density, compressive strength in cleft and impact resistance index of briquettes produced from combinations of maize cob particles and sawdust of low density species (Ceiba pentandra) were 0.966, 0.932 and 0.710 respectively. This study provides a hope for briquetting maize cobs at room temperature using a low compacting pressure.

Share and Cite:

J. Mitchual, S. , Frimpong-Mensah, K. and A. Darkwa, N. (2014) Relationship between Physico-Mechanical Properties, Compacting Pressure and Mixing Proportion of Briquettes Produced from Maize Cobs and Sawdust. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 4, 50-60. doi: 10.4236/jsbs.2014.41005.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Emerhi, E.A. (2011) Physical and Combustion Properties of Briquettes Produced from Sawdust of Three Hardwood Species and Different Organic Binders. Advances in Applied Science Research, 2, 236-246.
[2] Duku, M.H., Gu, S. and Hagan, E.B. (2011) A Comprehensive Review of Biomass Resources and Biofuels Potential in Ghana. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, 404-415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.09.033
[3] Okrah, L. (1999) The Bane of Sustainable Forest Management in Africa: The Case of Ghana. World Rain Forest Movement. http://www.wrm.org.uy/countries/Africa/Okrah.html
[4] Energy Commission (2006) Energy Supply to the Economy, Wood Fuels and Renewables. Energy Commision of Ghana, Accra.
[5] Moturi, N.W. (2010) Risk Factors for Indoor Air Pollution in Rural Households in Mauche Division, Molo District, Kenya. Africa health Sciences, 10, 230-234.
[6] FAOSTAT (2010) Crop Production in Ghana in 2010. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, Rome.
http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx
[7] ITTO (2008) Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation. International Tropical Timber Organisation.
[8] Mitchual, S.J., Frimpong-Mensah, K. and Darkwa, N.A. (2013) Effect of Species, Particle Size and Compacting Pressure on Relaxed Density and Compressive Strength of Fuel. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 4, 6 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2251-6832-4-30
[9] Mitchual, S.J., Frimpong-Mensah, K. and Darkwa, N. A. (2013) Briquettes from Maize Cobs and Ceiba Pentandra at Room Temperature and Low Compacting Pressure without a Binder. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 4, 6 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2251-6832-4-38
[10] Kaliyan, N. and Morey, R.V. (2010) Densification Characteristics of Corn Cobs. Fuel Processing Technology, 91, 559-565. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2010.01.001
[11] Mullen, C.A., Boateng, A.A., Goldberg, N.M., Lima, I.M., Laird, D.A. and Hicks, D.A. (2010) Bio-Oil and Bio-Char Production from Corn Cobs and Stover by Fast Pyrolysis. Biomass and Bioenergy, 34, 67-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.09.012
[12] Wamukonya, L. and Jenkins, B. (1995) Durability and Relaxation of Sawdust and Wheat-Straw Briquettes as Possible Fuels for Kenya. Biomass and Bioenergy, 8, 175-179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0961-9534(95)00016-Z
[13] European standard EN 13183-1 (2002) Moisture Content of a Piece of Sawn Timber. Determination by Oven-Dry Method.
[14] (1975) ISO International Standard ISO 3131. Standard Test Method for Density of Regular Solids.
[15] ASTM International (2008) ASTM Standard D2166-85. Standard Test Method of Compressive Strength of Wood.
[16] ASTM International (2007) ASTM Standard D440. Standard Test Method of Drop Shatter Test for Coal.
[17] Tumuluru, J.S., Wright, C.T., Kenny, K.L. and Hess, R. (2010) A Review on Biomass Densification Technologies for Energy Application. US Department of Energy. http://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1016196
[18] Mitchual, S.J. (2013) Densification of Sawdust of Tropical Hardwoods and Maize Cobs at Room Temperature Using Low Compacting Pressure without a Binder. Ph.D. Thesis, School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
[19] Yaman, S., Sahan, M., Haykiri-Acma, H., Sesen, K. and Kucukbayrak, S. (2001) Fuel Briquettes from Biomass-Lignite Blends. Fuel Processing Technology, 72, 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3820(01)00170-9
[20] Yaman, S., Sahan, M., Haykiri-Acma, H., Sesen, K. and Kucukbayrak, S. (2000) Production of Fuel Briquettes from Olive Refuse and Paper Mill Waste. Fuel Processing Technology, 68, 23-31.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3820(00)00111-9

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.