Characterization of bio-coal briquettes blended from low quality coal and biomass waste treated by Garant\xae bio-activator and its application for fuel combustion

Anggoro Tri Mursito,Widodo Widodo,Danang Nor Arifin

doi:10.1007/s40789-020-00309-0

Anggoro Tri Mursito, Widodo Widodo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-020-00309-0

Copy DOI

Abstract

Experimental research was carried out on the manufacturing of bio-coal briquettes from a blend of two different types of low-quality coal and biomass waste in the absence of coal carbonization, where the third blend of the material was fermented by adding a bio-activator solution before pressurizing the components into briquettes. The coal samples from Caringin–Garut Regency (BB–Garut) had a low calorific value and a high sulfur content (6.57 wt%), whereas the coal samples from Bayah–Lebak Regency (BB–Bayah) had a higher calorific value and a lower sulfur content (0.51 wt%). The biomass added to the coal blend is in the form of fermented cow dung (Bio–Kohe), and it had a calorific value of 4192 kcal/kg and a total sulfur content of 1.56 wt%. The main objective of this study is to determine the total decrease in the sulfur content in a blend of coal and biomass in which a fermentation process was carried out using a bio-activator for 24 h. The used bio-activator was made from Garant® (1:40) + molasses 1 wt%/vol, and its used amount was 0.2 L/kg. Also, the total sulfur content in the blend was 1.00 wt%–1.14 wt%, which fulfills the necessary quality requirements for non-carbonized bio-coal briquettes. The pyritic and sulfate content in the raw coal was dominant, and the organic sulfur, when fermented with Garant®, was found to be less in the produced bio-coal briquettes by 38%–58%.

Highlights

Coal is an organic mineral that can burn and produce energy, and it is formed from plant deposits that change in shape overtime because of the natural physical and chemical processes
The biomass added to the coal blend is in the form of fermented cow dung (Bio–Kohe), and it had a calorific value of 4192 kcal/ kg and a total sulfur content of 1.56 wt%
In addition to high-rank coal, Indonesia has low lignite coal resources with a calorific value of less than 4200 kcal/kg, and they are spread in large quantities across the islands of Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Java (Huda et al 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Coal is an organic mineral that can burn and produce energy, and it is formed from plant deposits that change in shape overtime because of the natural physical and chemical processes. The fine coal from Pamumbulan, Bayah Subdistrict, Lebak Regency, Banten Province, has very low selling prices (rejected coal), it has a higher calorific value in comparison with the coal from Caringin– Garut. In order to use low-rank coal, it has to be blended with higher-rank coal to meet the required coal quality specifications according to its use. The main benefit of blending low-rank and high-rank coal is meeting the necessary energy content requirements and other specifications regarding the moisture content, ash content, sulfur content, and calorific value so as to properly manufacture bio-coal briquettes. Coal briquettes are made through briquetting coal– based mixed particles, binders, and other additives at a certain pressure, forming certain shapes and sizes. According to Borowski and Hycnar (2013), the process of making coal briquettes consists of drying, homogenization, the addition of binders, and pressurization using mechanical devices

Objectives

Results

Conclusion