A bio-fuel briquette from durian peel and rice straw: Properties and Economic feasibility

Abstract

Durian peel and rice straw are considered as agricultural wastes. These twomaterials have high potential for a bio-fuel through the briquetting process according to theirquantities and thermal qualities. In this study, cold densification method and extrusionprocess are adopted for solid bio-fuel briquettes. Durian peel and rice-straw were pyrolysed,milled and combined together by adding ten percent of cassava starch as a binder. Physicalproperties of the briquette at various mass ratios of durian peel char and rice straw char wereinvestigated for heating value, compressive strength, ash and moisture content. The burningtest of the briquette was also observed. The results show the highest heating value of 24.674MJ/kg for the briquette made with durian peel char and rice straw char at a mass ratio of 9:1.The percentage of ash and moisture content and the compressive strength of the briquettewere 14.6%, 6.5% wet basis and 10.6 kg/cm2 respectively. A heating value higher than 20.92MJ/kg and a moisture content of less than 8 % are acceptable in the market according to theThailand community standard. Moreover, a payback period less than two years can beachieved.

Keywords: Bio-fuel, Briquette, Durian peel, Rice straw, Properties