Abstract:
Biomass particularly agricultural wastes, has become one of the most promising energy sources for developing countries. In East Africa, where biomass dominates the domestic energy market, briquetting technology is gaining momentum particularly as wood resources become scarcer and the price of regular charcoal increases. The idea of utilizing the residues from agricultural sectors as primary or secondary energy sources is somewhat attractive since they are free, indigenous and environmentally friendly. The major source of energy to the community is wood fuel since other sources of energy (electricity, gas and kerosene) are grossly inadequate where they are available and they are beyond the reach of the masses. Fuel wood collection leads to deforestation, desertification, global warming and pollution and these bring grave consequences on forest conservation sustainable forest resources management.
The study evaluated briquettes from different species of Musa sapientum plant (banana) peelings that is to say Gros Michel (bogoya), Musa x paradisiac (plantain/gonja) as Well as Musa AAA (matooke) for fuel production. The parameters analysed were moisture Content ash content, volatile matter, density, fixed carbon, nitrogen content and the heating value. The peelings were dried under the sun to remove some of the moisture content. The char was produced through the carbonisation process. The crusher was used for crushing and sieving. Binders for example char dust, starch were added in a mixer and mixed with addition of water. Pressing was done using a compactor and the briquettes were dried under the sun. The auto balance was used for density (g/cm3), the hot air oven for percentage moisture content, a marfle furnace for percentage volatile matter, percentage ash content, percentage fixed carbon, percentage nitrogen content by elemental analyser and the heating value was determined in kcal/kg.
All the peelings from the different banana species were capable of briquette production with Gros Michel presenting the highest heating value than the rest.
