Project Abstract

<p>             <b>ABSTRACT</b><br></p><p> Biomass Briquetting can address waste problems, reduce air pollution from direct open air burning and also reduce dependence on fossil fuels for heat generation. Dry leaves have been shown to have high calorific values; therefore the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of some binders on the physical and combustion properties of dried leaves briquettes. Dried leaves were mixed with binders such as clay, starch and Arabic gum separately at different ratios of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%, and made into briquettes using a manual press with a hydraulic jack of 20 tons. Physical and combustion properties of these briquettes were obtained using different methods prescribed by other researchers. From the results of the properties tested, briquettes made from dried leaves and gum at 40% of binder was most resistant to water. Dried leaves and clay at 40% had the highest relative density of 0.7977g/cm3. Dried leaves and starch had a relative density at 40%, 0.4640g/cm3&nbsp;while briquettes with gum binder had 30%, 0.4030g/cm3. Dried leaves and gum at 40% had the highest volatile matter of 84.110% and the highest heating value of 30.5118MJ/kg at 10%. Briquettes at this ratio failed to hold, because of its low durability. The high ash content of briquettes bonded with clay 16.353% to 34.487% made it difficult to ignite, due to the presence of non combustible matter. Dried leaves bonded with starch at 20% had high heating value of 30.2189, and was able to withstand shattering with durability of 81.752% and high relaxation ratio of 1.7427. It can then be considered as the best binder in this study. <br></p>

Project Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>1.0 INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong>1.1 &nbsp; BACKGROUND STUDY</strong></p><p>Energy generated from biomass is categorized as sustainable and renewable energy. During the plant life cycle, plant biomass materials derived from plant adsorb carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis at same rate as they release the gas in the combustion process, thus leading to no net increase in atmospheric CO2 quantity. Due to the lower contents of sulfur and nitrogen in biomass, its application also creates less environmental pollution and health risk than fossil fuel combustion. This is the reason why utilization of biomass is eco-friendly. Compared to fossil fuel, however, most of agricultural wastes have higher moisture content and lower density, thus making them technically unsuitable for direct use due to combustion and handling problems. Conversion of biomass wastes to briquettes is a solution for such problems. It improves biomass handling characteristics, increases the volumetric calorific values, and reduces transportation, collection, and storage costs (Grover and Mishra,1996).</p><p>The potential agro residues which do not pose collection and drying problems, normally associated with biomass are dried leaves, rice husk, groundnut shells, coffee husk and coir waste (obtained by drying process: Sybil 1958). If these agricultural waste products can be properly recycled, into useful products, more goods will be made available to our society, environmental pollution and other disease attack would be greatly reduced. Solid waste can be of importance when properly used or processed, among the uses of agricultural waste are products from rice mills, trees, etc utilized as solid fuel (Grover and Mishra, 1996). These are wastes from trees and plants that are usually gathered and burnt or left to decompose., e.g. stalks, leaves.</p><p>Burning a ton of leaves and agro forest residues produce 526N of carbon monoxide, 184N of particulates which are very tiny and easily absorbed in the lungs, and at least seven carcinogenic hydrocarbons which are all dangerous to health (Luke Cutis, 2002). Briquetting of these residues are found very useful because it reduces its volumetric value, increases thermal efficiency, better transportation and handling.</p><p>Dry leaves briquettes have higher calorific values than its raw material (Madhava et al., 2011)</p><p>Fuel is defined as natural or artificial organic substance used as source of energy and raw material for industries. All kinds of fuel as regards their state of aggregation are divided into solid, liquid and gaseous and as regards their origin into natural and artificial fuels (Francis and Peters, 1965). Solid fuels for which bound or compressed rice husk (Briquettes) belong to group under the natural fuel origin. Briquetting is defined as the compaction of loose combustible material for fuel making purpose. The products obtained from the process of briquetting are known as briquettes. Briquetting is a technology, which uses either a dry or a wet process to compress solid waste (rice husk) into different shapes.</p><p>Briquetting of biomass can be considered for its economics, reliability and ease of operation. Hence briquetting of rice husk for solid fuel is used for domestic heating in cooking stove, fireplace and furnace. They also have the advantage of cleanliness, ease of handling and igniting, produce a small volume of smoke and its ash content is rich in potash and phosphate. This ash can be used as fertilizer on an unfertile soil. With briquetting of rice husk a new fuel source is found which will help in reducing wild dumping of rice husk in the rice growing regions of Nigeria.</p><p> </p><p><strong>1.2 &nbsp; Problem Statement</strong></p><p>Dried leaves can be seen lying waste in most houses, industries, schools, markets, walk ways, gardens, fields, etc. Most times these leaves are left to litter the entire surroundings, other times they could be gathered and burnt openly. Open burning of leaves has been proven to cause health hazards (Luke Cutis, 2002). Most of these agricultural wastes have been highly promoted to be used in various heating systems, during the past decades. Compared to fossil fuel, however, most of agricultural wastes have higher moisture content and lower density, thus making them technically unsuitable for direct use due to combustion and handling problems (Grover and Mishra, 1996). Conversion of wastes to briquettes is a solution for such problems. It improves biomass handling characteristics, increases the volumetric calorific values, and reduces transportation, collection, and storage costs (Grover and Mishra, 1996).</p><p>Briquetting of dried leaves is relatively new. The effect of a binder on the heating properties of dried leaves briquettes amongst other briquettes like rice husk, saw dust and groundnut shell was studied (Madhava et el., 2011) but no detailed study has been carried out on the effect of the organic and inorganic binders which will be used in this study on the physical and combustion properties of briquettes. These binders to be used are readily accessible and available.</p><p>This search will enable briquette producers to produce the best quality dried leaves briquettes bearing in mind which binders that are locally accessible to use for best results.</p><p><strong>1.3 &nbsp; Objectives Of The Study</strong></p><p>The general objective of the study is to produce dried leaves briquettes using some specific organic and inorganic binders, then to determine the effect of these binders on the physical and combustion properties of the briquette. The specific objectives are:</p><ol><li>To produce dried leaves briquettes using three different binders</li><li>To determine the effect of the binders on the physical and combustion properties of the dried leaves briquette.</li></ol><p><strong>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp;Justification Of The Work</strong></p><p>Briquetting technology is being encouraged in developing countries as it serves as a cheaper alternative to cooking gas and kerosene used in most homes which are on the high side in terms of cost. It also serves as a cleaner, more presentable, less stressful and safer alternative to the use of firewood and charcoal for cooking. Therefore, there is a necessity to invest in briquetting and achieve the best results.</p><p>The result of this study will thereby help in understanding how binders affect the combustion properties of briquettes and also help researchers and producers choose type of binder to be used in dried leaves briquette production.</p> <br><p></p> <br><p></p>