EVALUATION OF RICE HUSK-GROUNDNUT SHELL BIOBRIQUETTE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR DOMESTIC COOKING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work involves the evaluation of biomass briquettes produced from the blends of rice husk and groundnut shell as feed stocks and gum Arabic as a binder. Five briquettes of different compositions of groundnut shell/rice husk where produced and evaluated in this research. The moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, compressive strength, afterglow time, flame propagation time, heating value and water boiling test were investigated to determine the physic-thermal properties of the briquettes produced. The results of the investigation showed that moisture content of the briquettes ranged from 3.96 – 5.63%, the heating value ranges from 130, 62.2 – 141, 62.56 kJ/kg, the compressive strength also ranges from 5.63-10.2 kN/m2, the range of ash content is 6.10 - 9.32 %, for fixed carbon is 7.67 - 20.2 %, the after afterglow time ranges from 238-271 sec and the range for water boiling test time is 10m, 34s – 13m, .22s. These values satisfactorily compares well with values obtained by other researchers in the literature. Therefore, the groundnut shell-rice husk briquettes are good alternative source of thermal energy for cooking. It is an economical and also an environmental friendly source of energy and waste disposal.