Abstract
This study examined the relationship between selected physico-mechanical properties, compacting pressure and mixing proportion of briquettes produced from combination of maize cob particles and sawdust of low, medium and high density timber species. Particle sizes of maize cobs and sawdust used for the study were ≤1 mm. The two materials were combined at mixing percentages of 90:10, 70:30 and 50:50 (Sawdust:maize cobs). Briquettes were produced at room temperature (28°C) using compacting pressures 20, 30, 40 and 50 MPa. The results suggested that combining maize cob particles with sawdust of low, medium and high density wood species could significantly enhance the relaxed density, compressive strength in cleft and impact resistance index of briquettes produced from agricultural biomass residue like maize cobs. The results further indicated that the physical and mechanical characteristics of briquettes produced from combinations of sawdust of low density species and maize cobs were exceptionally higher than that produced from combinations of maize cob particles, and medium density and high density timber species. The R2 values for the regression model between the independent variables (mixing percentage and compacting pressure) and relaxed density, compressive strength in cleft and impact resistance index of briquettes produced from combinations of maize cob particles and sawdust of low density species (Ceiba pentandra) were 0.966, 0.932 and 0.710 respectively. This study provides a hope for briquetting maize cobs at room temperature using a low compacting pressure.
Highlights
Energy in the form of firewood and charcoal has been the major source of renewable energy for many developing countries for which Ghana is no exception [1]
How to cite this paper: Mitchual, S.J., Frimpong-Mensah, K. and Darkwa, N.A. (2014) Relationship between Physico-Mechanical Properties, Compacting Pressure and Mixing Proportion of Briquettes Produced from Maize Cobs and Sawdust
Relaxed Density of Briquettes Produced from Maize Cobs and Sawdust of Low, Medium and High Density Timber Species
Summary
Energy in the form of firewood and charcoal has been the major source of renewable energy for many developing countries for which Ghana is no exception [1]. A study conducted by [8] indicates that briquettes with adequate physical and mechanical properties could be produced from sawdust at room temperature (28 ̊C) using low compacting pressure. Research studies conducted by [9] [10] suggested that maize cobs compacted at room temperature using low compacting pressure did not have adequate durability for handling and transporting This is probably due to its low lignin content (5.6%), low water soluble carbohydrates content (1.1%) and low protein content (2.5%), chemicals that are largely responsible for forming solid bridge bonds during densification or briquetting [10] [11]. This paper, which is part of a wider study, seeks to investigate the effect of mixing maize cob particles and sawdust of low, medium and high density timber species on physical and mechanical characteristics of briquettes produced at room temperature using low compacting pressure
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