Characterization of solid biomass briquette biofuel from the wastes of Senna auriculata and Ricinus communis using Tapioca starch for sustainable environment.

Abstract

Biomass energy contributes nearly 14% of the total global energy. Therefore, biomass briquettes can be effectively considered an alternate source of fossil fuels. The present study aims at utilizing Senna auriculata and Ricinus communis waste generated locally for the production of biomass briquettes with 10% of tapioca starch as binder. The biomass wastes are blended at various proportions such as 0:100 (S1), 25:75 (S2), 50:50 (S3), 75:25 (S4) and 100:0 (S5) respectively, and the concentration of binder was maintained to be constant. The characterization of the prepared biomass briquettes includes the analysis of physical characteristics, proximate analysis, elemental analysis, SEM analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric analysis and XRD analysis. The results of the proximate analysis have revealed that the biomass briquettes possess lower percentage in terms of moisture content, ash content, sensible fixed carbon and high percentage of volatile matter content. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis has shown that the carbon and oxygen are the major elements for all the biomass briquettes. SEM analysis has revealed that the surface of the biomass briquettes is identified with irregular surface, lumps, cavities and few deposits of carbon particles. Thermogravimetric analysis and DSC analysis have reconfirmed the spontaneous burning characteristics of biomass briquettes. XRD analysis has proved that the bonding between each element present in the biomass briquettes is either monoclinic, tetragonal, orthorhombic or anorthic.