TITLE:
Relationship between Physico-Mechanical Properties, Compacting Pressure and Mixing Proportion of Briquettes Produced from Maize Cobs and Sawdust
AUTHORS:
Stephen J. Mitchual, Kwasi Frimpong-Mensah, Nicholas A. Darkwa
KEYWORDS:
Briquette; Compacting Pressure; Maize Cobs; Mixing Proportions; Physico-Mechanical Properties; Sawdust
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.4 No.1,
March
27,
2014
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.