A STUDY OF ENERGY POTENTIALS OF COMBUSTIBLE ON-FARM AGRICULTURAL WASTE MATERIALS FOR PROCESSING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Biomass utilization allows for the management of on-farm agricultural waste, offering a sustainable solution for waste disposal and promoting energy production Biomass briquette of on farm agricultural waste materials is one of the proven efficient ways of energy generation. It involves collecting and compressing combustible waste materials into solid fuels of convenient shape that can be burnt like wood or charcoal. Investigation on the physical and proximate composition of both raw and briquettes samples of rice husk, sawdust, rice straws and maize cobs was conducted to determine the heating values from these on-farm agricultural waste materials. The result shows that the physical properties (bulk density) for both raw and briquettes samples were; 160.66kg/m3 and 1,070.67kg/m3 for rice husk, 211.67kg/m3 and 1,408.85kg/m3 sawdust, 76.72kg/m3 and 633kg/m3rice straw, and 171.32 and 560kg/m3 for maize cobs respectively. The proximate composition of raw and briquette gives: moisture content of 9.42% and 6.59, 8.33% and 5.14%, 8.13% and 5.12%, 6.03% and 5.03%. Volatile matter: 64.02% and 14.67%, 76.2% and 10.92%, 66.67% and 57.18%, 68.64 and 69.77%. Ash content: 17.38% and 6.38%, 1.32% and 3.82%, 20.19% and 4.31%, 2.36 and 1.47%. Fixed carbon: 9.18% and 72.35%, 14.07% and 81.45%, 5.21% and 29.87%, 22.97% and 33.74% and calorific value: 13.75MJ/kg and 59.86MJ/kg, 16.90MJ/kg and 109.51MJ/kg, 13.12MJ/kg and 17.97MJ/kg and 17.32MJ/kg and 18.58MJ/kg for rice husk, sawdust, rice straws and maize cobs respectively. It was observed that the briquette samples produced has good combustion properties for domestic use, food processing and small-scale industrial cottage applications. due to its high calorific value with low ash content when compared with the raw biomass samples.
Authors : Tashiwa, Y.I., Kabri, H.U., Ibrahim, K.I. and Jilima A.A.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 11(1) Date Uploaded : 29th May 2025