Study of Energy Fuel Briquettes production from Sawdust of Rubber Wood and Animal Dung

Abstract

The study of energy fuel briquettes production from rubber wood saw dust and animal dung aims to investigate the optimum ratio of agricultural waste and livestock waste to produce energy fuel briquettes for the community. Physical and fuel properties of 3 animal dungs were also tested e.g. cow, buffalo and goat dung. The dungs were extruded with tapioca starch as a binder. The ratio of rubber wood sawdust: dung : tapioca starch was investigated for 10 ratios. The results showed that the humidity, ash content, volatile compounds, fixed carbon, density and calorific value were in the range of 2.81 - 4.89%, 1.94 - 22.00%, 55.42 - 93.60%, 11.15 - 71.48%, 1.15 – 1.51 g/cm3 and 3,294.29 – 3,884.48 cal/g, respectively. The ignition time of the fuel was in the range of 6.28 - 11.70 min. The combustion time was 40.90 - 82.89 min and the combustion rate was in the range of 1.17 - 1.80 g / min. Economic cost analysis results showed that the payback period was 109 days. The major factor affecting the return of the project was the price of machinery, amount of fuel produced and the production time.