Feasibility of Charcoal Briquette Production from Organic Solid Waste Streams Generated in the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Authors: *Kolo, Z.K., Jones, A.N. And Musa, M.A.
DOI Info: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18060804
ABSTRACT
This paper assessed the potential of charcoal briquette production from sawdust and fallen leaves generated within the University of Maiduguri campus. The composition of the materials used for briquette production were 100% sawdust, 100% leaves, and a combination of 50% sawdust and 50% leaves with particle sizes of 1.18 mm and 0.3 mm. Cassava starch and Gum Arabic pastes were used as binding materials. Physical and combustion properties of the produced briquettes were determined to identify the briquettes with the greatest physical integrity. Results revealed that briquettes produced from leaves with gum Arabic binder had the highest density of 1.889 g/cm3, compressive strength of 5.98 bars, and moisture content of 7.83 % with a calorific value of 23.657 MJ/kg from a particle size of 0.3 mm. Similarly, briquettes produced from sawdust and cassava starch binder had the highest volatile matter of 27.10% with 0.3 mm particle size. However, a briquette of leaves + cassava starch had the highest ash content of 15.56 % with 0.3 mm particle size. Therefore, briquette sample produced from 100% fallen leaves with gum Arabic as binder had the highest combustion properties and could be scaled up for domestic and small-scale industrial application.
Affiliations: Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Ramat Polytechnic, P.M.B Maiduguri 1070, Borno State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Briquettes, Gum Arabic, Leaves, Sawdust, Particle Size
Published date: 2025/12/30
