Charcoal briquettes production from agricultural residues by using durian and nypa palm peel mixtures

Abstract

This research focuses on the production of charcoal briquettes from agricultural residues by using durian and nypa palm peel mixtures. The objectives of this study are to study the combustion efficiency of charcoal briquettes; study the suitable ratio for the production of briquettes with the ratios of durian : nypa palm peel mixtures as 100:0, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100; recycle the agricultural residues as the renewable energy sources and analyze the fuel characteristics; moisture content, ash content, volatile matters, fixed carbon and heating value. The results showed that the best ratio for the combustion efficiency of charcoal briquettes is 50:50 with the minimum moisture content of 4.68% the minimum ash content of 2.70% the volatile matters of 10.33% ; the maximum fixed carbon of 25.56% and all characteristics are met with the standard of charcoal briquettes from the local community products. In the ratio of 100:0, it showed the maximum heating value as 5,399 calories per gram. Therefore, the 50:50 charcoal briquettes are suitable as the renewable energy source. Besides, the capacity of odor adsorption was analyzed by adding the odor substances (mothball) in two bottles with three mothballs for each bottle for two consecutive days, before removal. Then, sic of 50:50 charcoal briquettes were added into one bottle. Ten testers smelled the bottle every two days for six days. The result showed that the bottle with the charcoal briquettes had odor less than the bottle without briquettes. Hence, the charcoal briquettes from durian and nyla palm peel mixtures have the best odor adsorption capacity and are suitable for household uses.