Proximate Analysis of Alternatives Cooking Solides Fuels in Sub Saharan by Using Astm Standards

Abstract

A number of persistent problems have been associated with the supply of traditional domestic fuels in developing countries and particularly in rural areas, including deforestation, scarcity of fuel wood and the high cost of fossil fuels. The use of biomass fuels derived from agricultural waste biomass, generally available in large quantities, has been advocated. This article, therefore, presents some bio-fuels in use or in acceptability test phase in some countries of West Africa and particularly in Senegal but also their characteristics, compared to those of wood or wood charcoal. Samples were prepared and analyzed for moisture content, ash content, volatiles mater, fixed carbon and calorific value. The results indicate that charcoal and bio-charcoal (not mixed with clay) have the best calorific value, while pellets and typha briquettes have the best results in volatile matter and fixed carbon. The results of moisture are generally satisfactory against the use of clay as a binder detrimental to fuel performance. These results suggest that pellets and bio-fuels are used as an energy source for domestic purposes; that the binder is changed in others; pelletizing and briquetting transformations are expanded in other residues such as rice husks, peanut shells.