Initial Ignition Time and Calorific Value Enhancement of Briquette with Added Pine Resin

Abstract

The increasing demand for clean energy requires considerable effort to find alternative energy sources, such as briquettes. This research aims to develop a charcoal briquette with added pine resin (API) that has excellent combustion speed and distinctive aroma. Briquettes are composed of charcoal, pine resin (concentration: 0%–30%), and starch (up to 7%). They are produced in several stages, including coconut shell pyrolysis in conventional combustion, to obtain charcoal for the briquette precursor. Briquette compaction is conducted by mixing and densifying the charcoal, pine resin, and starch using a hydraulic press for 3 min. The hydraulic press has a total surface area and diameter of 57.7 cm2 and 3.5 cm, respectively. The briquettes are dried at different temperatures, reaching 70°C for 24 h. The study results show that the briquettes have a thickness and diameter of up to 2 and 3.5 cm, respectively; moisture of 2.18%–2.62%; ash of 11.61%–13.98%; volatile matter of 27.15%–51.74%; and fixed carbon content of 40.24%–59.46%. The compressive strength of the briquettes is 186–540 kg/cm2. Their calorific value is 5,338–6,120 kcal/kg, combusting at a high speed of 0.15–0.40 s. The methoxy naphthalene, phenol, benzopyrrole, and lauryl alcohol; ocimene, valencene, and cembrene are found in the API. The API briquette has several chemical compounds, such as musk ambrette, ocimene, sabinene, limonene, 1-(p-cumenyl) adamantane, butane, and propanal, which improve aroma, drug application, and fuel production. Accordingly, API briquettes have considerable potential as an alternative energy source and a health improvement product.