Characterization of charcoal briquettes produced from blending rice straw and banana peel

Abstract

Blending rice straw and banana peel to form briquettes pronounced their properties. The addition of banana peel resulted in high physical and combustion properties. Different briquette samples were procured by blending varying the loads of rice straw and banana peel at the ratios of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 20:80, 10:90, and 0:100, respectively, using cassava starch as the binder. The properties of the sample briquettes were investigated, and it was noted that the physical properties of briquettes produced using rice straw and banana peel at the ratios of 30:70, 20:80, and 10:90 had high bulk density of 610–660 kg/m3 and compressed density of 768–831 kg/m3. The combustion properties of low moisture and ash content were approximately 9.7%–10.6% and 16.5%–18.2%, respectively; volatile matter was 39.7%–44.0%; fixed carbon was 28.9%–32.4%; and high heating value was 20.98–21.26 MJ/kg. Residual waste from Community Enterprise of Crispy Banana Chips was used for the production of more effective briquettes and as a natural alternative fuel to expand the global eco-friendly charcoal briquette market.