SOME PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF RICE STRAW BRIQEUTTES

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to develop the fundamentals of a technology for energetic utilization of rice straw aimed at solving the problem of harmful storing and burning of rice straw in Egypt and preventing the smoke clouds caused by this and handling via the right way that is safe for both the environment and agriculture, producing a cheap, easily storable, and environmentally sound biofuel for rural areas in Egypt. Chopped rice straw was densified into briquettes using a laboratory model vertical hydraulic press at different formation pressures of (15, 32, 49 and 60 MPa), three temperature (room temperature (35oC), 75 and 100oC), three level of moisture content (6.53, 8.90 and 10.26% wb) and different holding time (10, 20 and 30 min). The results showed that the highest bulk density, compression ratio, durability and water resistance were 1337 kg/m3, 18, 95% and 107 min, respectively, at formation pressure of 60 MPa, temperature of 100oC, moisture content of 6.53% and holding time of 30 min. While, the minimum resiliency obtained was 6.53%. The CO, CO2 and NOx emissions values for rice straw briquettes decreased by 69, 54 and 37 %, respectively, of the emissions values CO, CO2 and NOx for chopped rice straw. The combustion efficiency was 99% and 70% for rice straw briquettes and chopped rice straw, respectively, and the burning time was about 74 and 15 min for rice straw briquettes and chopped rice straw, respectively.