Effect of Binders on EFB Bio-briquettes of Fuel Calorific Value

Abstract

The development of biomass has been assumed as an important issue in the past several decades and would remain to be attractive in the future due to its clean, renewable, and carbon–neutral properties. Biomass is one of the most important renewable energy resources in the world. In recent decades, the utilization of biomass has dramatically increased. There were many reasons. First, biomass is a renewable resource, because of the availability of biomass is unlimited, and its regenerative process runs well. Second, the extraction of biomass energy can be carried out more flexible. The biomass can be burned directly without high technology. Biomass bio-briquettes are often used as an energy source for cooking purpose and in some industries. The bio-briquettes are produced by densification of waste biomass using various processes. In this, the study manual densification of bio-briquettes was tested by three different binding agents; cassava flour, sago flour, and starch flour. The objective of this study was to compare different binding materials in the production of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) bio-briquettes between binders. The binder is used as a mixture on the EFB fiber. Three types of the binder are cassava flour, sago flour and starch flour are used as comparators to obtain high heating value. The percentage of binder in each sample is 2%. The ratio of the use of water as a diluent between the fiber and the adhesive is 1: 5. Samples of solid cylindrical shape diameter 4 cm and 5 cm high and density sample is 0.8 g/cm3. The pressure is used to generate samples specified in the mold volume. The volume of the cylinder is 62.8 cm3. The adhesive cassava with a percentage of 2% can provide power to the sample mechanically by a drop test at the height of 1.20 m. The result shows that the binder cassava has fuel calorific value average is 3661 cal/g, a binder of starch 3584 cal/g and sago 3537 cal/g. Results indicated that sample binder cassava flour has calorific fuel value higher than sago and starch flour.