Physical and Mechanical Analysis of Paddy Leaves Charcoal Briquettes

Abstract

Paddy leaves can be used to make charcoal briquettes and good as renewable energy sources. The charcoal briquettes were pressed at a pressure range of 50 – 90 bars using the cold press machine. This paper reports the physical and mechanical properties of charcoal briquettes produced from paddy leaves. The moisture content of paddy leaves charcoal briquettes was calculated after dried in an oven at 80°C until the briquettes reached a constant weight. Then, the paddy leaves charcoal briquettes were subjected to the Compression Test with a maximum load capacity of 500kg and crosshead speed of 0.305 mm/min until the briquettes came to a failure as for the investigation of its compressive strength. The average moisture content of paddy leaves charcoal briquettes were in the range of 7-8%. The lowest value of moisture content was 7.32%, recorded by CB5 charcoal briquette sample which, contributed to the highest value of its compressive strength. Its compressive strength was 2.176 MPa. The investigation showed that CB5 was the best charcoal briquette, and the compressive strength was affected by the moisture content in the paddy leaves charcoal briquettes.