Profiling of common crop residues for briquette manufacture :

Abstract

Despite the fact of several research studies to recycle crop wastes into briquettes, the quality and suitability of the crop residue briquettes remains a core issue for their successful adoption. This success is highly hindered by the briquette manufacturers' lacking a characteristic Profile that can be used as a quality predicting tool for. briquettes from crop residues. It is due to this reason that, the briquette manufacturers still major in wood and wood charcoal briquettes, rather than diversifying through the crop residue briquetting opportunity. In particular, Agro-processing milling and threshing industries produce large annual residue -waste worldwide (Eastern Uganda inclusive). They thus accumulate due to high investment requirements for cogeneration that could utilize these residues which is at the same time not directly suitable for use as household cooking fuel. This research has developed a characteristic profile on the potential of groundnut shells, maize cobs, rice husks, cassava and sweet. potato peel crop residues to guide briquette manufacturers. For this research, samples were collected. from the villages of Syaule and Busitema, Busitema sub-county, Busia district in Eastern Uganda. Samples were then cleaned, dried, carbonized, ground and briquetted using molasses. Based on the specific objectives of the study, the characteristic. profile of groundnut shells, maize cobs, rice husks, cassava and sweet potato peel crop residue was developed. The research was scoped and objected to characterizing the crop residue based on; the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content; percentage fixed carbon, calorific value and chemical element (02, H, C, N and S). As well, the performance of these crop residue briquettes was assessed and the corresponding profile was developed. The briquette performance assessment was based onto comparison of the briquette properties of. the crop residue. Such properties covered in this Study includes: the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, percentage fixed carbon, calorific value, ignition time, durability/longevity, density, porosity and water boiling test.