TITLE:
Production and Characterisation of Briquettes from Carbonised Cocoa Pod Husk and Sawdust
AUTHORS:
Prince Ofori, Osei Akoto
KEYWORDS:
Cocoa Pod Husk
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.7 No.2,
February
28,
2020
ABSTRACT: The demand for wood fuels in rural and some urban areas of Ghana keeps on increasing which could lead to forest degradation. The present study sought to produce and characterise briquette made from cocoa pod husk and a mixed sample which comprised of a mixture of cocoa pod husk and sawdust as an alternative source of fuel to reduce the pressure on wood fuels. Simple methods were used to produce the briquette for the study. The physico-chemical properties of the briquettes were conducted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where the proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and calorific value of the briquettes were analysed and compared to the controlled sample charcoal produced from “Amire” species (Terminalia ivorensis) using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications. A survey was also conducted to determine the usability of the briquettes using purposive sampling technique where sixty (60) respondents were given samples of the two different kinds of briquettes produced to use. Results obtained from the ultimate and proximate analysis showed that there were significant differences among the treatments (P