Physical and Proximate Analysis of Fuel Briquette Made Using African Locust Bean (Parkia biglobosa) Pulp as a Binder

This paper examines the possible use of African Locust Bean (Parkia biglobosa) Pulp as a binding agent for the production of biofuel briquettes. Sawdust biomass was briquetted using hot and cold prepared African Locust bean pulp (SBP) and cassava starch (SBCS) as binders. Physical and combustion analysis of the fuels were performed in accordance with ASTM analytical methods and calculations to analyse the briquettes strength and aptness as a solid biofuel. The results obtained for the maximum density, relaxed density and shatter index ranged between, 802.03 to 931.87 , 300.60 to 336.40 and 89.29 to 99.77% respectively, with samples SBCS and SBP(Cold) showing a better result. The proximate analysis performed shows that, the %Moisture content (Dry basis), %Ash content, %Volatile matter and %Fixed carbon ranged between 6.52 to 8.08%, 2.60 to 5.12%, 78.21 to 86.53% and 2.79 to 10.15% respectively. The Calorific Value obtained for the material briquettes are 17,230kJ/kg, 18,270kJ/kg and 16,550kJ/kg for SBCS, SBP(Cold) and SBP(Hot) respectively. It has been observed from analysis that the strength of the briquettes descends in the order SBCS→SBP(Cold)→SBP(Hot), with a little variation between samples SBCS and SBP(Cold). The study indicates the potential of the binder for the production of biofuel and significantly improve the carbon content as well as the calorific value of the fuel.