Energy Potential and Properties of Agro Biomass Briquettes with Nano Kaolin Binder for Sustainable Environment
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 13, No 3 (2024) pp. 82-88
Abstract
The utilization of Tanner’s Cassia waste (T) and African Wonder tree waste (A) in the biomass production chain presents an opportunity for generating value-added products and enhancing productivity. Incinerating these wastes can pose environmental challenges; however, transforming them into briquettes offers a sustainable approach to produce high-energy fuel. This study investigated various mixtures of Tanner’s Cassia and African Wonder Tree waste, denoted as TA1 (0:100), TA2 (25:75), TA3 (50:50), TA4 (75:25), and TA5 (100:0), with the addition of 20% nano kaolin as a binder. The resulting briquettes underwent thorough analysis including physical, SEM and elemental analysis. The density of the TA briquettes ranged from 836.38 to 1105. 57 kg/m3. Key metrics evaluated include ash content, moisture content, volatile content, and fixed carbon content. The results for TA1 (0:100) are 11.22% ash, 5.73% moisture, 69.39% volatile, and 13.66% fixed carbon, while for TA5 (100:0), they are 14.17% ash, 9.87% moisture, 58.07% volatile, and 17.89% fixed carbon, showing a trend of increasing ash and fixed carbon content and decreasing moisture and volatile content across the samples. The SEM analysis of the briquettes reveals distinct characteristics for each mix ratio. Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis indicated carbon and oxygen as the major elements, with 54.48 wt.% and 37.92 wt.%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of TA briquettes with a 20% nano kaolin binder as a viable alternative energy source due to their low moisture and ash content, coupled with a high calorific value.
Full Text
Reference
Ali, A., Kumari, M., Manisha, Tiwari, S., Kumar, M., Chhabra, D. and Sahdev, R. K., Insight into the Biomass-Based Briquette Generation from Agro-Residues: Challenges, Perspectives, and Innovations, Bioenergy Res., 17, 1-41 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-023-10712-5
Bot, B. V., Axaopoulos, P. J., Sakellariou, E. I., Sosso, O. T. and Tamba, J. G., Energetic and economic analysis of biomass briquettes production from agricultural residues, Appl. Energy, 321, 119430 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119430
Chaloupková, V., Ivanova, T., Ekrt, O., Kabutey, A. and Herák, D., Determination of particle size and distribution through image-based macroscopic analysis of the structure of biomass briquettes, Energies, 11(2), 331 (2018).
https://doi.org/10.3390/en11020331
Chen, L., Xing, L. and Han, L., Renewable energy from agro-residues in China: Solid biofuels and biomass briquetting technology, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 13(9), 2689-2695 (2009).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.06.025
Chin, O. C. and Siddiqui, K. M., Characteristics of some biomass briquettes prepared under modest die pressures, Biomass Bioenergy, 18(3), 223-228 (2000).
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(99)00084-7
de-Oliveira, P. R. S., Trugilho, P. F. and de0Oliveira, T. J. P., Briquettes of acai seeds: characterization of the biomass and influence of the parameters of production temperature and pressure in the physical-mechanical and energy quality, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 29, 8549–8558 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15847-6
Deshannavar, U. B., Hegde, P. G., Dhalayat, Z., Patil, V. and Gavas, S., Production and characterization of agro-based briquettes and estimation of calorific value by regression analysis: An energy application, Mater. Sci. Energy Technol., 1(2), 175-181 (2018).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mset.2018.07.003
Dinesha, P., Shiva, K. and Marc, A. R., Biomass briquettes as an alternative fuel: A comprehensive review, Energy Technol., 7(5), 1801011 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201801011
Eswaramoorthi, P., Suthaviji, S., Manoj, S., Jothi, L. N. and Sampathkumar, V., Combustion Analysis of Solid Biomass Derived from Turmeric and Onion, using Nanoclay as a Binding Material, for a Sustainable Environment, J. Environ. Nanotechnol., 13(1), 26-31 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.13074/jent.2024.03.241496
Falemara, B. C., Joshua, V. I., Aina, O. O. and Nuhu, R. D., Performance evaluation of the physical and combustion properties of briquettes produced from agro-wastes and wood residues, Recycl., 3(3), 37 (2018).
https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling3030037
Han, K., Gao, J. and Qi, J., The study of sulphur retention characteristics of biomass briquettes during combustion, Energy, 186, 115788 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.07.118
Ibitoye, S. E., Jen, T. C., Mahamood, R. M. and Akinlabi, E. T., Densification of agro-residues for sustainable energy generation: an overview, Bioresour. Bioprocess., 8(1), 75 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-021-00427-w
Nagarajan, J. and Prakash, L., Preparation and characterization of biomass briquettes using sugarcane bagasse, corncob and rice husk, Mater. Today Proc., 47, 4194-4198 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.04.457
Palanisamy, E., Velusamy, S., Al-Zaqri, N. and Boshaala, A., Characterization and energy evaluation analysis of agro biomass briquettes produced from Gloriosa superba wastes and turmeric leave wastes using cassava starch as binder, Biomass Convers. Biorefin., 13(12), 11321-11337 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04543-9
Ravichandran, S. R., Venkatachalam, C. D., Sengottian, M., Sekar, S., Kandasamy, S., Subramanian, K. P. R., Purushothaman, K., Chandrasekaran, A. L. and Narayanan, M., A review on hydrothermal liquefaction of algal biomass on process parameters, purification and applications, Fuel, 313, 122679 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122679
Stolarski, M. J., Szczukowski, S., Tworkowski, J., Krzyżaniak, M., Gulczyński, P. and Mleczek, M., Comparison of quality and production cost of briquettes made from agricultural and forest origin biomass, Renewable energy, 57, 20-26 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.01.005
Veeresh, S. J. and Narayana, J., Sustainable utilization of agro-waste for high calorific energy briquettes, Energy Sources Part A, 35(14), 1375-1384 (2013).
https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2010.525594
Velusamy, S., Subbaiyan, A., Shanmugamoorthy, M. and Thirumoorthy, P., Characterization of solid biomass briquette biofuel from the wastes of Senna auriculata and Ricinus communis using Tapioca starch for sustainable environment, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(4), 10110-10127 (2023).