Production and Characterization of Charcoal Briquettes From Cattails, Mango and Sisal Residues

Abstract

This research aimed to prepare and evaluate the performance of charcoal briquettes produced from mango residues, sisal decortication residues and cattails vegetation, which pose disposal challenges and a biodiversity threat in wetlands. Carbonization was carried out using a metallic drum kiln. The carbonized chars were mixed with cassava starch, maize starch, molasses and waste paper binders to evaluate their performance and suitability for use. The briquettes were then subjected to proximate analysis, water boiling tests, indoor air quality analysis and compressive strength tests. The average conversion percentage of the metallic drum kiln during carbonization was found to be above 25.43%. The prepared briquettes exhibited high ambient concentration levels of CO and PM2.5, exceeding 45 ppm and 600 μg/m³ respectively, in all cases. These levels were well above the WHO recommended limits of 10 ppm for an 8-hour period and 25 μg/m³ for a 24-hour period respectively. This was attributed to incomplete carbonization. Molasses binder showed high strength during compression tests although this was not close to that of conventional acacia charcoal which exhibited higher axial compressive strength of above 5.5 kN. This research found that a metallic drum kiln has great potential in the carbonization of crop and other agricultural residues. However, more studies are needed to optimize its performance and reduce the high ambient emissions from the charcoal briquettes. Mango residues were singled out as having the potential to produce high-quality charcoal briquettes, while molasses showed superior properties among the binders. In contrast, waste paper was found to be an ineffective binder.